Need help finding diverse, affordable suburb? (Chicago, Naperville: real estate, mortgage, loan)

[Reyes66]

Hello, first time poster here and need help finding a good suburb in Chicago.
I got a job in Chicago and am planning to move there with my wife. We have no children yet but are planning to and want to raise them in a diverse area.
We're both Filipino and originally from Sacramento and although there aren't as many Asians in Illinois as California, I read that the it actually has third largest Filipino population in the whole country. I specifically read that the largest Filipino populations in Chicago area are in Skokie, Morton Grove, Glendale Heights, and Bolingbrook. The latter two are listed as some of the most ethnically diverse suburbs in the whole Chicago area but being I'm not from the area, I'd like to know more info.
Which has the best commute time to Downtown? Is there a train that I could take to get in any of these locations? We'd also like access to places where we can shop and we like to live near action so a suburb with a lot of restaurants and activities to do. Since we plan on having children, how are the school districts in the areas I mentioned?
Are there any areas that fit all our criteria? I don't want to live in anywhere that is more than an hour away from Downtown and would prefer to be an ethnically mixed area that is also safe and not too expensive.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Reyes66

Hello, first time poster here and need help finding a good suburb in Chicago.
I got a job in Chicago and am planning to move there with my wife. We have no children yet but are planning to and want to raise them in a diverse area.
We're both Filipino and originally from Sacramento and although there aren't as many Asians in Illinois as California, I read that the it actually has third largest Filipino population in the whole country. I specifically read that the largest Filipino populations in Chicago area are in Skokie, Morton Grove, Glendale Heights, and Bolingbrook. The latter two are listed as some of the most ethnically diverse suburbs in the whole Chicago area but being I'm not from the area, I'd like to know more info.
Which has the best commute time to Downtown? Is there a train that I could take to get in any of these locations? We'd also like access to places where we can shop and we like to live near action so a suburb with a lot of restaurants and activities to do. Since we plan on having children, how are the school districts in the areas I mentioned?
Are there any areas that fit all our criteria? I don't want to live in anywhere that is more than an hour away from Downtown and would prefer to be an ethnically mixed area that is also safe and not too expensive.

You're in luck, working in downtown Chicago. Skokie has rapid transit service, Morton Grove has commuter train service, which is faster. The other two require driving or a shuttle bus. Bolingbrook is a major suburb so options are better. Need to know budget, though from California Chicago prices will look like a bargain.

[Reyes66]

Originally Posted by pvande55

You're in luck, working in downtown Chicago. Skokie has rapid transit service, Morton Grove has commuter train service, which is faster. The other two require driving or a shuttle bus. Bolingbrook is a major suburb so options are better. Need to know budget, though from California Chicago prices will look like a bargain.

Looking for a single family home with a price range of $300k-500k. Would also do less but nothing more than 500k.

[847mom]

I would say that both Skokie and Morton Grove meet your requirements very nicely. You will be able to find a home under 500,000 in either town. Coming from California I feel you will have realistic expectations. You won't be buying a castle but possibly a split level type home. Some people who move here from the west or east coast expect the prices to be cheaper and are surprised when they start looking that though the Chicago area is relatively more affordable, you won't get a huge, new house like in other parts of the midwest.

The schools are good in both towns and there are many stores and restaurants. Skokie is home to the Old Orchard Shopping Center, which is one of the better malls in the Chicagoland area. There are plenty of Filipinos in these areas and much diversity. Niles North High School in Skokie is like the UN.

I don't know much about Bolingbrook or Glendale Heights although I had a friend who lived in Bolingbrook at one time but she didn't like it and ended up in Naperville as I think she felt the schools were better.

[wjj]

And don't forget to factor in real estate taxes. They are quite high in this area. It is not unusual for real estate taxes to approach or even exceed mortgage loan payments in some cases.

[Hiruko]

Skokie and Morton Grove are where I would look. One of my dearest friends has a Filipino parent. She grew up in Morton Grove and graduated from Niles West. It's a nice area, but as has been mentioned, you will be looking at some of the highest property tax rates in the northern suburbs. Our property taxes are a lot higher than California.