Detroit/Chicago Experts Help! (Arlington Heights, Schaumburg: condo, employment, versus)

[mstengle]

Yes, still looking for a condo! But have settled on Vernon Hills. Can someone familiar with Detroit suburbs, tell me what a similiar suburb in Detroit is comparible with Vernon Hills.
I am thinking Vernon Hills, like Canton. Libertyville Like Plymouth. Help!!

[Tex?Il?]

I have been to the Detroit burbs before, but it has been awhile. And it just so happens that the area have been, has been the Plymouth, Canton area.

I would agree with comparing Canton to Vernon Hills because both are really more of the stereotypical everything new/chain-dominated/drive everywhere suburbia.

Plymouth I can see being more like Libertyville because even though both are suburbs both also have a very quaint downtown/small town atmosphere with all kinds of family activities that you might not find in just any suburb.

Socio-economically I would say it is very similar as well. Except that as far as I know in metro Detroit the only predominantly white collared areas outside of Oakland county are the Gross Pointes and the Plymouth/Canton areas. Whereas in Chicagoland there are more white collared versus blue-collared suburbs because of the heavier emphasis of financial employment compared to manufacturing.

[Anthera]

Vernon Hills & Libertyville are similar in many ways to residental Novi. You'd need to throw in Schaumburg to approximate the business/commercial area.

Lake Forest - Nicer parts of Bloomfield Hills (not the twp)

Winnetka/Glencoe/Kenilworth - the Grosse Pointes

Evanston - Ann Arbor

Northbrook - West Bloomfield

Mundelein/Diamond Lake - Walled Lake

Mettawa - Wabeek

[mstengle]

Very interesting! Thanks so much. Just for the heck of it--what would you compare Palatine to? I wasted a day looking around there-couldn't really figure it out at all!!

Thanks again.

[Anthera]

Palatine doesn't really translate within my knowledge base. I would be purely guessing - but Brighton?

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Palatine doesn't really translate within my knowledge base. I would be purely guessing - but Brighton?

I grew up near Palatine. I could be wrong, but isn't Brighton, MI still somewhat rural? Palatine is pretty much builtout. It still had some vacant land about 10-15 years ago, but no longer.

[Tex?Il?]

I have heard a metro Detroiter comment that dowtown Palatine and Arlington Heights looked a little like Royal Oak, MI

with the major exception that Palatine and AH are pretty quiet and family oriented because in Chicagoland any young people that want nightlife and excitement head straight for the core of the city, whereas as Detroit has so few nice places that some suburbs like Royal Oak have turned into nightlife hotspots. You really don't find that in Chicago furthur out suburbs.

[mstengle]

Yes-I agree. Detroit suburbs have developed nightlife- due to the absence of the City of Detroit to exist!!

Visited Vernon Hill, yesterday- exactly like Novi, Michigan. Very nice--but it is going to be very very hard for my daughter to leave Forest Park. Vernon Hills, is really far from the City- but I guess she will get used to. Closer commute to work and her friends/social life who are in Lake Forest/Libertyville!!

Thanks again for your help- -the information was 100% accurate!

[lakecountylifer]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

I have heard a metro Detroiter comment that dowtown Palatine and Arlington Heights looked a little like Royal Oak, MI

with the major exception that Palatine and AH are pretty quiet and family oriented because in Chicagoland any young people that want nightlife and excitement head straight for the core of the city, whereas as Detroit has so few nice places that some suburbs like Royal Oak have turned into nightlife hotspots. You really don't find that in Chicago furthur out suburbs.

Palatine is similar to Royal Oak----Brighton has a upscal but somewhat rural feel----similar to Wadsworth or maybe even Long Grove

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by lakecountylifer

Palatine is similar to Royal Oak----Brighton has a upscal but somewhat rural feel----similar to Wadsworth or maybe even Long Grove

I haven't been to Brighton in many years - it was nothing like LG or wadsworth then.