LaGrange vs Wilmette (Evanston, La Grange, Western Springs: mortgage, buying a house, neighborhoods)

[rongoe]

took wife on 3-day househunting trip last week. We are now deciding between LaGrange and Wilmette.

Which would you choose... lot is 50x196 in East Wilmette but house needs a little updating (bathrooms soon, kitchen eventually). Lot is 50x167 in LaGrange but house is recently updated and with a little more space given the usable basement and large room on 3rd floor. We've got 4 kids aged 3 to 11.

How bad would driving from LaGrange (from near 55th and Lagrange Rd) to Hyde Park be? I-55 to lake shore south is about 20 miles. It seems that driving would be an option from here, whereas driving from Wilmette would be out -- train/bus only.

thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts.

[Nysee53]

I would definitely go for the home in Wilmette because in Wilmette you get #1 New Trier High School. Lyons is a very good school, but New Trier is the school people think about when they think of excellence in public education. Make renovations to your home in East Wilmette and it will appreciate fast. Wilmette is like a blue chip stock, your value is guaranteed to rise. We have the lake which helps our market stay stable and more desirable than the western suburbs. The only thing that you will have a problem is that in Wilmette an older home takes much longer to sell than a new home even if that newer home has less character and a less desirable location. You can dig out the basement floor and finish the house and blow out the third level. I live in Glencoe and know the area very well. Would you mind telling me the address and the price you plan to pay for the property? La Grange is very nice, but Wilmette is nicer, so go for it!

[chet everett]

While I have no problem agree that NT is the pinnacle of public high schools in suburban Illinois, I have to conceded that to be working in HP and facing a daunting commute to a smaller, less easy to sell home.

The cumulative effects of spending dozens of extra hours a month in commute time takes it toll on a working parent's ability to be directly involved with their children's academic and extra-curricular pursuits which ultimately would have as large if not large an impact on the student's success.

[SloopyJ]

Originally Posted by Nysee53

New Trier is the school people think about when they think of excellence in public education.

Maybe, but New Trier is also the school people think about when they think of insufferable rich kids with an inflated sense of entitlement. Yeah, it's unfair, and yeah, LT has that too, but lots of people *avoid* going to New Trier because of the image it conjures up.

The truth is you have two great options. LT is a great school, so is NT. In any case, my concern with the area of LaGrange you describe is walkability. Downtown LaGrange is nice, but it would be better if you were in a walk-to-train location, both for the amenities of downtown LaGrange and for resale. East Wilmette is generally a more walkable/bikeable area and may be slightly more appealing for that reason and for the (I'm guessing) closer proximity to the CTA and Metra stations.

Unless gas hits $2/gal anytime again, walk-to-train locations are going to be the big winners in the appreciation game.

[chet everett]

The variation in LaGrange from 'walk to train' to the places that are more suited for a "bike to train" or "park at train" are not as great as in some towns.

I think this is because of the amenities that each of the neighborhoods in LaGrange has. With the shopping areas of LaGrange Park, Downtown, Stone Ave, 55th St or 47th, the parks, country club, Field Club for Tennis & Swimming, walk-to-school basically the norm in every neighborhood, various churches and homes of varying size/vintage/style LaGrange has no real "you simply MUST" type neighborhoods.

[SloopyJ]

I think that's true to a point, but I know from my family's experience that parts of LaGrange and Western Springs closer to 55th Street - while still nice places to live - have not seen the same appreciation as the places that are closer to the trains. No question the difference is nothing like east Wilmette vs. west Wilmette, but I do think the heretofore small difference will only get more pronounced as I-55 gets more congested and gas prices (presumably) don't come too far down.

[chet everett]

I know what you are saying, but it almost a "lifestyle choice" kind of thing. I know families that specifically will look ONLY in say Springdale of Western Springs. There are lots of people that specifically want Oak Brook, lack of any sort of transit be damned.

I think if we were talking about entire TOWNS way the heck out in the hinterlands with no possible alternative to driving a great distance to get to ANYthing it would be a different story, but you remember right now there are people that are totally cool with walking / riding buses for MILES in some area just so they can live in their hip City neighborhoods and still have a decent job in the 'burbs...

[Paige65]

Both are nice communities with good schools. I don't think you should think too much about NT vs. LT. They are both great schools. NT gets all the hype, but if your children go to any handful of top tier schools in the suburbs, they'll have wonderful opportunities. Because of commute time and a little bigger and updated house for your money, I'd choose LaGrange.

I LOVE the North Shore (and reside there) but I would never choose a longer commute when you have another great option so much closer to your job.

Good luck!

[rongoe]

oops... I meant from 47th and Lagrange Rd, not 55th and Lagrange.

The home we're under contract for is a block or two north of 47th. According to google maps it's .8 miles from the metra. In wilmette we would have been .5 from both the metra and the el. If I decide to take the train, I'll probably bike it just to save a few minutes. I was hoping to stay within .5 of the station, but buying a house is all about compromises with one's many demands. Hopefully, from a resale standpoint .8 mile is still considered "blocks" to the metra.

The mortgage isn't going to leave much left over for the renovations suggested by the first responder who voted for wilmette. The teardown option value of that property, however, was hard to say no too. The 50x196 lot would support a pretty nice rebuild (though not by me, at least not until my wife's manuscripts get picked up by an agent).

It's nice to hear that most of you don't think LT is much of a sacrifice. I'm sure it'll be much better than the education I got, and, well, ...

We actually found the Lagrange downtown to be nicer than Wilmette's. More shops of interest (to us) in Lagrange, and Wilmette had a few vacancies (though they may be normal turnover, not persistent empty storefront). We saw groups of young teens hanging out together, and I vaguely recall a 2nd run theater. This played a minor role, if any, in the decision, since we didn't really get a chance to explore the downtowns fully, or to venture into Evanston where the shopping/dining is more extensive.

[chet everett]

THe section of LaGrange north of 47th is very much part of the "core". The "historic district" mansions are right there. Great location!

LT has lots of opportunities for kids. There are some variations in the feeder schools, but the section of LaGrange where your home is quite desirable.

You are correct about the movie theater and there are PLENTY of useful shops, nice restaurants for couples AND families, great access to the train.