Muslim community comparison FW,TX vs Chicago suburbs (Aurora, Naperville: home, neighborhood)

[medical74]

Hello
We are a Muslim family deciding to relocate between Fortworth, TX (Southlake neighborhood) vs Oak Brook, IL. We are in healthcare, from Pakistan, and have been in the USA for over three decades. Older children are in college and we are moving to find good matches for them. Younger is in high school.
What are the suggestions from this forum regarding
1- Pakistani/ Indian Muslim community Demographics and comparison. We are from an Urdu-speaking background and want to find similar friends.
2- diversity in colleges, options for various fields of education
3- Public schools vs private schools
4- Masjid access
5- Commute
6- Obvious differences in weather but how bad can it really get in Chicago in winter and summer in Dalla/FW?
7- Youth concentration for socialization
Thanks in advance

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by medical74

Hello
We are a Muslim family deciding to relocate between Fortworth, TX (Southlake neighborhood) vs Oak Brook, IL. We are in healthcare, from Pakistan, and have been in the USA for over three decades. Older children are in college and we are moving to find good matches for them. Younger is in high school.
What are the suggestions from this forum regarding
1- Pakistani/ Indian Muslim community Demographics and comparison. We are from an Urdu-speaking background and want to find similar friends.
2- diversity in colleges, options for various fields of education
3- Public schools vs private schools
4- Masjid access
5- Commute
6- Obvious differences in weather but how bad can it really get in Chicago in winter and summer in Dalla/FW?
7- Youth concentration for socialization
Thanks in advance

1—Oak Brook has a very large south Asian presence that is diverse in background.
2—Chicagoland is home to many prominent higher education institutions. Excellent community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and universities.
3—Public education in suburban Chicago is largely very well funded and respected. There are fewer private schools in the suburbs here than in Texas. However, there are a handful of independents that are very elite and worthy of consideration should your finances allow.
4—I don't know enough about the Islamic community to advise. There are Muslims here, obviously, but in my travels, I don't know that Islam (Nation of Islam aside) is as visible here as it is in New York, for example.
5—Traffic in Chicagoland is awful and coming back post-COVID with a vengeance. Public transportation here is great and is recovering.
6—Chicago has four seasons, just like Dallas. However, our winters are significantly more extreme than Dallas' summers.
7–Plenty of children all over the metro. Probably too many, contributing to climate change.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by hiruko

7–plenty of children all over the metro. Probably too many, contributing to climate change.

rofl

[Pseudonym18123]

The Indo-Pak Muslim community is fairly sizable out here in Lincolnshire, though I imagine Barrington and Oak Brook have the largest population. Muslims in general, you’d look at Worth or Bridgeview, although these areas are not the most desirable for schools. In Lake County there’s a mosque in Mundelein, so Hawthorn Woods could be worth checking out as well.

[personone]

Chicagoland has one of the largest Muslim (and South Asian) populations in the country (it is Top 5 in terms of metro). Not sure about Oak Brook specifically, but just based on numbers, I'm sure you will find a sizable community either in Oak Brook itself or someplace nearby.

[chicagodesi]

Naperville has a great Muslim community and wonderful schools as well.

[Burbmama]

Originally Posted by chicagodesi

Naperville has a great Muslim community and wonderful schools as well.

This. Aurora too but slightly different school ratings depending on the specific neighborhood.

A.handful of colleges out that way.

The bridgeview/burbank area has a large Muslim community but is referred to as little palestine and has less of an indian population. They are closer to Chicago for college access.