Affordable Suburbs? (Chicago, Cicero, Evanston: cheap apartment, for rent, crime)

[ABQBound84]

I was considering a move to Chicago from California. The only thing thats making me hesitant is the price of the city. Does anyone know which suburb would be the most affordable to rent in and still have access to the El Train going into the city? ( I have also looked at the Miller Beach area in Gary, IN...BUT I have heard horror stories about Gary).

[sukwoo]

1. What do you consider affordable?
2. What do you consider a reasonable commute into the city?
3. What level of crime do you feel is acceptable?

[ABQBound84]

1. Affordable would be up to $850 a month 2. I would not want a train ride longer than 30 minutes into the city. 3. I was raised in East LA, so as long as I can get a good nights sleep and not have to worry about getting shot as long as I am minding my own business.

[Avengerfire]

Why not just live in the city? A 30 minute commute is going to limit you to Cicero,Forest Park,Oak Park or Evanston. I think only the green line or purple line express would get you downtown in around that time.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by ABQBound84

1. Affordable would be up to $850 a month 2. I would not want a train ride longer than 30 minutes into the city. 3. I was raised in East LA, so as long as I can get a good nights sleep and not have to worry about getting shot as long as I am minding my own business.

A million people live in Chicago! Most have rents not dramatically higher than what you are suggesting, and are PERFECTLY SAFE!

East LA!

Chicago is beautiful city with far better transportation infrastructure.

Safety is flat out NOT AN ISSUE for 95%++ of all citizens.

I know the national news LOVES to talk about street violence as some sort of wild west war zone, but 99 times out of hundred these are idiot kids with guns fighting over something stupid. The city has an Orwellian network of cameras and even gunfire locator microphones that have cops dispatched withing minutes of these yahoos blasting away at each other.

Odds that any indiviual even in a BAD neighborhood would actually WORRY about gunfire are about as remote as an engine falling off an airplane...

[ABQBound84]

I am not trying to say that Chicago is a violent city, I have just never lived there so I want to make sure that I WILL NOT end up in a neighborhood where I do have to worry about crime. The only reason I am worried about ending up in a crime ridden neighborhood is because where I grew up in Pico Rivera AKA East LA, gunfire and homicides where a very negative reality for me and my family growing up.

[sgresident]

I can't believe that you are coming from california and only want to spend $850 a month for rent! Isn't rent out there much more expensive?

[ABQBound84]

That's the exact reason I am moving from California. So I dont have to pay over a grand a month for a sh*t hole studio.

[chet everett]

Generally cheap apartment are a "you get what you pay for" situation nationwide. If you want a NICE 2 bed 1 bath in a quiet town like Berwyn you MIGHT find something for as low as $850, but like anyplace else nicer == more expensive.

Berwyn is served by the El and Metra. About 20-30 minutes into downtown...

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by chet everett

A million people live in Chicago!

Um, a lot more than that live in Chicago.

OP: you can find rent prices like that all over the place, have you looked on Craigslist by chance? Do you want a urban life or a more suburban life?