What's Carol Stream Really Like? (Chicago, Naperville: apartment, rent, mortgage)

[DennyCrane]

I searched for threads about Carol Stream, but didn't really find anything detailed. I'm looking for a place to live along I-355 that's easy to reach both the Schaumburg area as well as the Downers Grove area. But it's been hard to find any areas between those two that are appealing. I'm a single 30something professional who'd like to get my own place, but not spend a truckload on mortgage payments or property taxes. I want to be someplace diverse, not too conservative, that's safe, reasonably clean, and that's either full of or close to people like myself. I saw one place I really liked in Carol Stream, but I know nothing about the area. I've driven through and seen industrial parks, but have no sense of what the community is like. Can anyone help me out? Is there another area that I should be considering instead?

[Steve-o]

Carol Stream? Its the vanilla suburb of Chicagoland, surrounded by rotten vanilla suburbs (ie Hanover Park and West Chicago). Overall its a decent place, just not fun whatsoever. Decent housing stock to choose from, pretty diverse (Hispanic presence, small African American presence, heavy Asian and Indian population), safe, etc. There is no downtown, and the community relations there seem decent. Youre close to Bloomingdale which has a lot of shopping, and south is Wheaton, which is very nice IMO. Id choose far Eastern Wheaton (or Lombard), its relatively close to I-355 and the town itself is just more interesting than Carol Stream. Downtown Wheaton is pretty nice, and there is a few Metra stops there, too. I forget if Carol Stream has one or not. I think Hanover Park does....

[JanuaryGirl]

It is pretty bland, but will be considerably cheaper than Wheaton. I grew up near the Carol Stream library, just west of Gary Ave. I thought it was a nice area, no there's no downtown but around there are a few parks, library, etc.

You didn't say how much you want to spend, but CS will be a lot cheaper than living in other towns with more of a community feel like Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove.

[Steve-o]

If you absolutely must live in Carol Stream and can afford upwards of 250K for a home, check out the SW end of town, near Fair Oaks Rd, etc. It seems nicer and quieter over there.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by DNaomi

It is pretty bland, but will be considerably cheaper than Wheaton. I grew up near the Carol Stream library, just west of Gary Ave. I thought it was a nice area, no there's no downtown but around there are a few parks, library, etc.

You didn't say how much you want to spend, but CS will be a lot cheaper than living in other towns with more of a community feel like Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove.

I'm looking to spend in the mid to upper 200s. I need a place with at least 2 bed/2 bath, a 2-car garage and hopefully a basement. A townhouse would suit me better since I'm single and don't feel like doing yard work. Plus, I could always rent the place out if I ever more out. Wheaton I hear is pretty conservative. That won't suit me. Another issue I have is property taxes. I hear a lot of people bought houses in areas and priced out as taxes went up.

[fairmarketvalue]

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

I'm looking to spend in the mid to upper 200s. I need a place with at least 2 bed/2 bath, a 2-car garage and hopefully a basement. A townhouse would suit me better since I'm single and don't feel like doing yard work. Plus, I could always rent the place out if I ever more out. Wheaton I hear is pretty conservative. That won't suit me. Another issue I have is property taxes. I hear a lot of people bought houses in areas and priced out as taxes went up.

LOVE your screen name- our favorite show and did you see the season premier on Tues.? Anyway, there is a beautiful new townhome subdivision right on North Ave. on the very southern tip of CS. There is also a developement near the "town center" up on lies rd. Since you don't have kids, etc. you don't have to worry about schools. Re-sale is always an issue when it comes to that, but chances are these 2 townhome developements will not drive the "family market" as they tend to always go to either singles, young marrieds, or empty nesters. Good Luck.

[illinoisboy]

Carol Stream is a nice town. It has a great park district and although no "real" downtown Main Street type of thing, it does have a very nice town square where they hold many festivals throughout the year. There is a good amount of new construction going on, but the town still remains a pretty nice place, although it is bordered by a couple of not-so-great towns.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by fairmarketvalue

LOVE your screen name- our favorite show and did you see the season premier on Tues.? Anyway, there is a beautiful new townhome subdivision right on North Ave. on the very southern tip of CS. There is also a developement near the "town center" up on lies rd. Since you don't have kids, etc. you don't have to worry about schools. Re-sale is always an issue when it comes to that, but chances are these 2 townhome developements will not drive the "family market" as they tend to always go to either singles, young marrieds, or empty nesters. Good Luck.

I actually found a really great townhouse on the southeast side of Carol Stream, bordering on Wheaton, Glendale Heights and Glen Ellyn. I don't mind if there's no downtown to speak of. I can always drive to the neighboring suburbs or just do to downtown Chicago. Really what I'm interested in is finding good affordable housing that's reasonably close to the city and the suburbs like Schaumburg and Oak Brook. Even if Carol Stream isn't full of single people, it's near areas that are. My biggest concern at this point is safety and resale. I don't want to buy a place and then be stuck with it cause no one else wants to live in that area, either cause it's not that safe or cause the schools are lousy. I have no kids, but I know that most homebuyers are so I have to be mindful of what potential buyers will be looking for. Townhomes are great for people like me who don't have kids, but don't want to live in a cramped apartment. I look at the townhomes out in Naperville near the train station and see that those would be easy to sell. Great school district+close to train is a winner for families. But Naperville is just too far west. Carol Stream is better situated. I just need to know what specific areas to avoid, besides the obvious ones like right by the warehouses.

[Steve-o]

Look into Warrenville. Its housing costs are similar to Carol Stream, and overall its a nicer place with better highway access and close to Wheaton/Naperville/Winfield for Metra access. Steer clear of Glendale Heights, its got some issues. Nothing overly horrible, just not desireable.

[sbd78]

I think Carol Stream is fine if you found a good home at a good price. Its not Naperville, but it certainly isn't a bad place either. Just some school advice since you are interested in schools for resale, there is a small portion of Carol Stream that falls in Elgin's U-46 district. I would avoid that area as Elgin schools have a bad rep. Stay in the area that attends Glenbard North HS and you should be fine.