Moving to Glendale Heights, IL!!! (Chicago, Wheaton: low income, real estate, crime)

[Floydian7889]

I'm looking for information pertaining to Glendale Heights, Illinois. As of now I live in Minnesota and I am trying to find a place to move into when i arrive in IL. I would also like to know a little about the city, example what kind of stores, banks, restraunts, etc....Thanks for all the help!

[jmlapearl]

I Would Avoid Glendale Heights...got Some Shady Areas. I Would Probably Recommend Bloomingdale Or Glen Ellyn. Right Next Door, But Better Housing, Schools, Etc.

[HOWELL_STREET]

Glendale Heights has a moderately high percentage of minority groups. Although the houses are slightly cheaper than Wheaton or Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights may also have a higher crime rate, too.
Glendale Heights is adjacent to IL -64 known as 'North Avenue' in this area. So that area has a very high density of businesses and also terrific truck and traffic congestion. On the flip side, Glendale Heights has a very good hospital known as 'Glen Oaks'. In Glendale Heights, there are a lot of families living in a cramped community. Although Wheaton and Glen Ellyn are very nice, houses in general cost a huge fortune. New houses are between $500K and some even exceed one million dollars. In this expensive area of Du Page County, the gasoline prices are very high, too. Only the City of Chicago has higher gas prices than Du Page County, Illinois.

[peghello]

I'm curious as to why you would choose Glendale Heights over other suburbs. If it is due to the cost of homes and if you have a family, you might want to look at other suburbs as well. I've lived in Glen Ellyn, which adjoins Glendale Heights, for over 40 years. It is my experience that Glendale Heights is becoming a very diverse area, with many moving to this area from Chicago. The City of Chicago is eliminating many of its low income (or no income) housing developments, and it is my understanding that some of the former city residents are moving to the Glendale Heights area. I certainly don't have a problem with diversity, but it seems that with low income or no income ("welfare") individuals moving to the area, gang-related crimes and drug dealing has gone up. There is no high school in Glendale Heights, which is one reason that the real estate tax base is lower. The high school students are bused to schools in Glen Ellyn, Carol Stream and Lombard. On the plus side, you certainly can get more house for your money in the Glendale Heights area, and the village puts on a great party and fireworks show in the summer. ~ Peg

[Jeff Hill]

If you MUST be in Glendale Heights, stay AWAY from Armitage Ave. The neighborhood off of Armitage to the south is very rough lately. If you can stay north of Fullerton and south of Mill Pond, you'll at least be away from the gang activity.
If you can afford to stay out of Glendale Heights, I would. Just my opinion.

[nanannie]

Another vote here to skip G.Hts. Let us know your price range-perhaps someone will have a better idea for you

[Steve-o]

How/why on earth did this thread get dug up?

[nanannie]

I see the OP never returned anyway -oh well

[kleer]

The best thing about Glendale Heights is Portillos and the Taco Bell on North Ave. is above average

[chitown1]

Everyone is giving you good advise to avoid Glendale Heights. I went to HS in Wheaton. (Wheaton in my teen years, was "dry", and pretty upscale. I hear it has changed, and isn't as safe) At that time, many many moons ago, GH was a nice area. In the past decade, it has seen a decline in the quality of community, and an increase in crime.

But, as others have pointed out, there are many adjoining towns that are safer environments, and only a few minutes drive to GH. Glen Elyn, Lombard, even Elmhurst...are all good choices.

Chicago is rather unusual in it's commute compared to most other big cities. You would expect everyone to be driving into Chicago in the morning, and back out at night. Due to the number of well developed communities, the traffic is bad-both ways during rush hour.

So, if you were considering Jeff Park or that area to be closer to the city, and "reverse" commute, you could still hit a lot of traffice going to work.

The other thing to bear in mind. All the suburbs have easy, reliable transportation to the City, for the times you want to go downtown. So, moving closer to the city for entertainment reasons, might be lost on a commute to work that would not be great.

So, my advise would be to look aroung GH, near public transportation for those downtown adventures.

Best Wishes with you career!