libertyville? barrington area?

[pandabear]

Barrington(the city and surrounding villages) is a bedroom community, in which primarily upper middle class commuters ( a good portion of them on their witts end) live. Estates are alot cheaper and typically have less custom detail than estates on the gold coast. Lots of McMansions with families to suit. The area isn't nearly as desirable as the locals will tell you. I know this has been mentioned but there is absolutley nothing to do unless you are a 30 year old woman with 4 kids you are raising, in which case you are to busy to do anything.Outside of basic necessities, pretty much everything you do will involve a commutte going east (going to work, going to school, going shopping, going to the theater, etc.)

[nanannie]

Baloney.Been here over 20 years.Some commuters,some not/Nice homes,not so nice homes/huge estates,old village homes, McMansions,just like alot of other burbs,but its a very pretty area/hilly/great schools/ parks. There are as many activities here in the town, or close by in several neighboring commmunities, or a commute to Chicago one wants,just like a dozen other burbs.People at "wits End",no more then the Gold Coast or any other place .Its further then the city,,different strokes.I prefer the peace and beauty over nite clubs and malls.If I was single,no kids,Nope,wouldnt live here.I would live in Evanston or downtown

[Joe107]

North shore is great but commute times to the loop are more & more horrendous as the North side of the city becomes ridiculously dense. This is why the appreciation rates of real estate have been much better in Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, and Western springs area. (affluent towns with short distance to loop)

[fridleygal]

I have lived in both towns, Barrington first. When we were transferred back to Chicago we chose not to return to Barrington, but chose Libertyville instead. When I drove past BHS at lunch time, they had an adult custodian outside during lunch picking up trash as the students threw it on the ground next to them - couldn't wrap my brain around that! Libertyville has an active, vibrant downtown, with several very good restaurants - not sure where the poster that said it has a "large" hispanic population got that idea, but is simply isn't true - great combination of people, young professionals, many families with children, and people who have raised their families here and have retired.

[yogomoto]

Originally Posted by fridleygal

Libertyville has an active, vibrant downtown, with several very good restaurants

Good point, looking around in the downtown area of Barrington, it seems pretty boring with a tile store, antique store and painting store.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by yogomoto

Good point, looking around in the downtown area of Barrington, it seems pretty boring with a tile store, antique store and painting store.

Barrington isnt that kind of town to have a vibrant downtown though. Barrington, to me, always reminded me of the English countryside. Nice homes on nice lots. Not to mention the extremely obnoxious-10 million-dollar-and-up homes. Ever been into Magnolia Pointe? Good gork! There is a home in there that is 30K sq ft!

Anyways, yeah, downtown Barrington sucks, but I think they like it that way.

[mdz]

It seems a lot of people are getting "Barrington" confused with "Barrington Hills". Barrington itself is standard "railroad line" suburbia, lots of nice older homes, there is a mini-downtown area and such. only about 10000 people live in the city itself. It's affluent but not obscenely so.

The "english countryside" area is Barrington Hills, and that is mega rich mega houses mega property. Beautiful area.

[LkZurichMom]

Originally Posted by mdz

It seems a lot of people are getting "Barrington" confused with "Barrington Hills". Barrington itself is standard "railroad line" suburbia, lots of nice older homes, there is a mini-downtown area and such. only about 10000 people live in the city itself. It's affluent but not obscenely so.

The "english countryside" area is Barrington Hills, and that is mega rich mega houses mega property. Beautiful area.

Got that right.

The places to be in Barrington are South or North. Much more access to shopping and other amenities than the downtown area. Downtown is good if you want to roll out of bed and stagger onto a train. The downtown is a sprawling area of small shops. The North end (North Barrington) of the Barrington Area is good for access to Lake Zurich shopping, and north to state park and lakes. The south end (south Barrington) is good for access to woodfield (more distant) and the newer shopping areas along Higgins Rd and Rt 59 and to Barrington Rd. But it really isn't much further to either from downtown.

I find that most people that demand a downtown are people that want a walking mall with convenient access to high end coffee, restaurants and dry cleaning services. We spend more time at Home Depot and Target.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by yogomoto

Good point, looking around in the downtown area of Barrington, it seems pretty boring with a tile store, antique store and painting store.

I have to speak up here.Downtown BARRINGTON has NO tile store and no painting store.You must have gone down Rt 14 which is a major thru street running thru many burbs.. The actual downtown is small,nice,restaraunts,the usual small town shops,churches,historic homes,(some are now shops and yes,antiques stores)and is very lovely.It is NOT Evanston,Naperville or a booming big town by any means,its not a destination you would go for nite life,but its a charming family friendly town with the usual parades,beer tents,wine festivals,sidewalk days,outdoor concerts etc that many in the burbs comes to expect, and is well maintained and a very nice town non the less.There is BIG money here,its a home of choice for many of Illinois big bucks and old money people(as well as the tacky Mega McMansion building,hummer driving nouveou riche'),but it also is a great home choice for the rest of us