Is Glenview a Good Place to Raise Kids (Chicago, Gurnee: for sale, real estate)

[mjpohl]

Was wondering if Glenview had everything to offer.
Was wondering if the schools are better than in Libertyville, or is it really a wash? (they both seem to be excellent, almost best in the state?)

I know it is pretty steep in housing prices.
I see that there are alot of Townhomes for sale in the area.
Also many being built.
The Condo/townhome range seems to be 400-500K for a 3-4 BR.
What kind of Property Taxes could I expect on that size of a house?
Does it differ in certain parts of Glenview.
Are there alot of young families with kids in the Townhome communities...what type of people tend to live in them?

Is Traffic pretty bad on the local roads in and around Glenview?

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by mjpohl

Was wondering if Glenview had everything to offer.
Was wondering if the schools are better than in Libertyville, or is it really a wash? (they both seem to be excellent, almost best in the state?)

Glenbrook Highschools that serve Glenview are a bit more highly regarded than the Libertyville High -- nobody is going to rate that 'best in state' but they are comfortably far from the bottom.

Elementary schools are close in the numbers but have difference that are more subjective. Really depends what you are looking for.

Originally Posted by mjpohl

I know it is pretty steep in housing prices.
I see that there are alot of Townhomes for sale in the area.
Also many being built.
The Condo/townhome range seems to be 400-500K for a 3-4 BR.
What kind of Property Taxes could I expect on that size of a house?
Does it differ in certain parts of Glenview.
Are there alot of young families with kids in the Townhome communities...what type of people tend to live in them

Yes the townhouses are expensive. The 3-4 bed units that were sold at the top of the market may have been DOUBLE the range cited, mostly went to retirees that made out like bandits when the teardown market was on fire. Taxes might be around $8K, some higher, very few lower. Yes, the newer units tend to have higher taxes. Yes it varies a lot.
They are NOT popular with school age kids, despite the fact that some are close to the nice recreation facility and the Kohl Museum.
The type of people are more toward retirees and DINKS.

For a a family you could do better with an older home, unfortunately the tear down craze has not left too many nice ones in your price range.

Originally Posted by mjpohl

Is Traffic pretty bad on the local roads in and around Glenview?

Hard to say. If by local roads you mean the streets that people live on, then NO, traffic does NOT use those much as they are not good alternatives to the arterials. The arterials ARE heavily traveled and get quite congested. On the other hand if you compare how broken up the routes are by the golf course, railroad tracks, and even toll roads it is somewhat clever that they did manage to lay things out so that very few parts of town have the real gridlock that is more noticeable in other towns...

[Marius]

I would say one of the best in the NW burbs. Glenview is an awesome town.

[cubssoxfan]

Excellent choice in EITHER Libertyville or Glenview. Where is work? Commutes can be a bear in Chicagoland traffic.

[SuburbanGuy]

I would choose to live in Glenview over Libertyville anyday. The schools in Glenview are better and there's much more to do in glenview and neighboring suburbs. You're close enough to Chicago to do things there, yet still in a true suburb with all its advantages. Libertyville in Lake County is too far away from anything fun, except Great America in Gurnee.

[US-Traveller]

Glenview is a very nice area to raise kids. Glenview schools are considered top-notch and are considered 2nd only to New Trier schools in the Northern Suburbs. Glenview falls primarily in the Glenview Public School District for K-8 and then the Glenbrook South School District for 9-12. Some parts of Glenview fall in Avoca and New Trier Public School Districts and in Maine School District. Glenview has very nice community amenities. Glenview has very nice bike paths, clean parks, and Cook County also has some nice forest preserves in and around Glenview. Glenview is generally less expensive than towns that line the lake, but it is still considered part of the North Shore. The eastern portions of Glenview are the most expensive and it gets cheaper the father you go west. The Glen development has the nicest townhomes, but most of those, especially those surround the Town Center are at least $700k. I am sure you can find some good deals on townhomes in Glenview because the market in Glenview hasn't held up as well as other areas because of the high-inventory. The property taxes vary, but I would bet on around $7k per year. Many families are living in the Glen townhomes, but less so in the other developments.

[nanannie]

Though this is an old thread and am not sure the op is even around, I would respectfully disagree. I am one who would prefer L'ville. Glenview ( its hard to beleive anyone considers it actual 'north shore') has all the charm of a strip mall. Tree-less sub divisions are not my ideal for raising kids. Cookie cutter hoods, mega traffic, a brand new large strip mall made to look like an actual "town'', meh. I like the mature 'hoods, older growth trees, an actual 'downtown village', lovely parks, added with very good schools is my preference.

[US-Traveller]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Though this is an old thread and am not sure the op is even around, I would respectfully disagree. I am one who would prefer L'ville. Glenview ( its hard to beleive anyone considers it actual 'north shore') has all the charm of a strip mall. Tree-less sub divisions are not my ideal for raising kids. Cookie cutter hoods, mega traffic, a brand new large strip mall made to look like an actual "town'', meh. I like the mature 'hoods, older growth trees, an actual 'downtown village', lovely parks, added with very good schools is my preference.

Have you seen Eastern Glenview? Eastern Glenview and the Glen Oak Acres area have older homes, mixed with new constuction, and it closely resembles the original North Shore communities. Eastern Glenview is also on-par in terms of real estate values with Winnetka, etc.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

Have you seen Eastern Glenview? Eastern Glenview and the Glen Oak Acres area have older homes, mixed with new constuction, and it closely resembles the original North Shore communities. Eastern Glenview is also on-par in terms of real estate values with Winnetka, etc.

In what fantasy world is eastern Glenview on par with Winnetka? there are some nice homes in the circles but if you compare them to similarly sized homes in Winnetka they are worth far less. The part of eastern Glenview by the forest preserve is downright nasty. (Its still zoned for farming)

I don't understand all the people who try to compare XXX area to Winnetka. If it was really that great you'd be comparing Winnetka to XXXX.

I too vote for Libertyville. Its a lovely town and hase a great deal of archetectural character.

[US-Traveller]

Well many people compare other Chicago locations because it is well known and is a benchmark for real estate values. In the past two months Winnetka has seen a far steeper price decline that East Glenview. I wouldn't call any part of Glenview except for maybe the trailer park "nasty". I think that is really insulting to those who pay a lot of money to live in Glenview. Glenview has always been nice and has always been affluent. I really cannot believe you said that.......you must be from Winnetka.