Arlington Heights? (Oak Park, Glendale Heights, Highland Park: mcmansions, condo, rental)

[childfree-by-choice]

I am a single black female, considering a move to Arlington Heights or Barrington, IL. Are these areas where I may run into racial problems, or are they fairly liberal? I'd appreciate any information you can give. Thanks.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by childfree-by-choice

I am a single black female, considering a move to Arlington Heights or Barrington, IL. Are these areas where I may run into racial problems, or are they fairly liberal? I'd appreciate any information you can give. Thanks.

I think you should be fine in either area. Arlington Heights is a bigtime blue collar town, Barrington more white collar. Both towns have black people, but more in AH. Barrington is an upscale town with many multi-million dollar homes, so most of the black people that live there are influential and well-to-do (Walter Payton was one of them). AH is a much cheaper town. Are you looking to buy or rent? Whats your price range and preferances? But as far as being black, you should be fine in either Id imagine. Best of luck!

[cdrobert]

Arlington Heights isnt really that blue collar... check out what is in the $500,000 to 400,000 range

http://www.remaxni.com/RemaxIL/index...ortbyid=&ptd=3

alrington heights gets the perception of being blue collar because of its 1950's housing stock but land value is pretty high. especially once you start to get north towards palatine and buffallo grove where the newer sprawling homes are.

the fact of the matter is arlington is more diverser economically as well as racially. I can say this as someone who grew up the next town over in the palatine/rollingmeadows area, as well as some one who has a parent who resides in barrington.

arlington has everything from overpriced condo's downtown to starter bunaglows in the low 300,000's to Mcmansions which are more pricey due to dwindiling availablity of land. Arlington Heights has been near the epicenter of the tear down epidemic as well, where people are buying up homes demolishing them and slapping up mcmansions.

Barrington by my standerds isnt really even a suburb. Theres not really any real suburbs besides lake zurich that touch barrington. and lake zurich isnt much. Barrington sits outside of palatine due northwest and is a bit more rural. a few miles of woodland seperate barrington and from sububan palatine. its more of an exurb, a suburban like area that is more like an outskirt suburb in which a few miles or rural land seperate them from more developed suburbs. once you leave barrington you are in the sticks, everything you need to shop for is in town. most people dont work around barrington most like my mother endure long train rides towards downtown chicago or if they are insane take barringtonroad to i90. kids who grow up in barrington call it borrington. The area is primarily upper middle class and white. and i have had some of my high school friends who were minorities visit me in barrington and i can assure they were more co****table in arliington.

[childfree-by-choice]

Thanks to both of you for responding. Steve-O, I'm looking for single ranch or split-level homes that offer a lease-to-purchase option. I've checked out quite a few rental home websites, but so far, I haven't found quite what I'm looking for, though I found 2 possibilities in AH and Barrington. Other areas I'm considering are Oak Park, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe, or any area around the North Shore. I'd appreciate it if you could recommend some good websites for rental homes w/lease to purchase options in these areas. Thanks again for your help.

[Steve-o]

You know what? Im an idiot and must have been asleep when I replied to your question. I was thinking Glendale Heights, not Arlington Heights. DOH!!!!!! Yes, cdRobert is correct. Arlington Heights is more white collar, definitely more white collar than Glendale Heights. I cant believe I messed those two towns up! Boy do I feel like a horse's ****! LOL Sorry about that!