Possible move to Oswego (Chicago, Aurora: sales, crime rate, loan)

[jimijames58]

My family and I are thinking of a possible move to Oswego due to my company relocation. Can anyone offer some advice on the community, schools, crime rate, etc.? Also what is the cost of living in Oswego? Is it as bad as Chicago? I am coming from Tulsa, Ok so I know it will be an increase, I just don't want a 40% increase like Chicago. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[llama214]

Even though I do not live there, I think I can be helpful in this case. Oswego is a great place to live in my opinion. It is sadly growing, but I think it is working hard to retain that small town feel that many of its neighbors have lost. If it works out, hopefully it will look like an St. Charles or Geneva someday. Visit these areas to know what I mean.

I'm not very familiar with the schools, but just know that Oswego is right next to Aurora and Naperville, which are huge cities all to themselves. Naperville's schools are very good and I would have no problem sending my kids there, but Aurora is questionable. I like Aurora, but have heard nothing but negatives about there highschools. If I lived there, it would be wise to spend money on tution to another school, then after school events.

Crime rate should be low. Again, Aurora and Naperville are huge places so crime is no stranger, contrary to what others will tell you on this forum.

All in all, Oswego is a great place to live and I'm sure you will be happy there. If that doesn't work out, Plainfield is another excellent location that is safe, educated, and in well standing with the other burbs.

Oh, and if you do move there, some of us downstaters tend to, in jest, poke fun at the name Oswego. But hey, I live next to a town called Normal, and down the road is Champaign, so I can't say much I guess.

[jimijames58]

LOL! I'm sure I'll get use to getting made fun of since we're from Oklahoma. Thanks for the advice though. I will check into Plainfield as well.

[OakBrookMom]

I can give you a good idea of the cost of housing. You can get a nice 3 bedroom home for under 250K or a 4 bedroom for under 300K. Under 300K there are about 100 homes on the market right now (yes I'm a realtor). Taxes on a 4 bedroom home about 260K in Oswego run about 5400/year. The public schools are good so if you have kids, you won't have to pay for private school. Check out District 308's website. You could go into the southwest section of Naperville, it isn't too far. Despite what people say on this forum, Naperville is a wonderful town and there's a reason it is ranked one the best places to live in the country evey year by Money Magazine. Northern Plainfield is also an option. If you go into Aurora, look in the sections zoned for Oswego or Naperville 204. West Aurora High School isn't too bad and if you like older homes the area by the University has a wonderful selection. Most people consider West Aurora a step down from the schools in districts 204 or 308. If you don't have kids yet, you still need to know about the school districts, property values and appreciation are directly linked to the quality of the schools.
As far as other items, gas is over $2/gallon, last time I filled up it was $2.18/gallon. Childcare runs anywhere from 150-225/week depending on the age of your child. Food is about 100/week for a family of 4 if you shop the sales. On Route 59 there is a Costo where you can buy in bulk. We have so many retail stores that you should never buy anything at full price. There is an outlet mall in Aurora right off of I-88 at Farnsworth that I like. The Children's place outlet has great sales - my kid needed an orange and blue outfit for bears day so I got a pair of jeans and a nice orange top there for $10 total. My husband loves the Addidas outlet.
Good luck and if I can help you more, let me know.

[shadow91]

Panera bread store there--absolutely love it and we don't have them here in Arizona.

[Anne from Oswego]

Originally Posted by jimijames58

My family and I are thinking of a possible move to Oswego due to my company relocation. Can anyone offer some advice on the community, schools, crime rate, etc.? Also what is the cost of living in Oswego? Is it as bad as Chicago? I am coming from Tulsa, Ok so I know it will be an increase, I just don't want a 40% increase like Chicago. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Don't move to Oswego.....I live here since 1969.....
The taxes keep going up & the schools are over crowd.....And they keep building more schools & more fire stations (5 now)...
Oswego is trying to competent with Naperville... But what is so funny is Naperville move into Oswego to get away from high taxes......Now they are trying to move out.......And don't move to Plainfield they are no better on taxes.. And the traffic is terrible in Plainfield & Oswego.......Your best bet is move to Lisbon or Minooka or Newark they are small towns....
Good Luck!!!!

[Anne from Oswego]

Originally Posted by OakBrookMom

I can give you a good idea of the cost of housing. You can get a nice 3 bedroom home for under 250K or a 4 bedroom for under 300K. Under 300K there are about 100 homes on the market right now (yes I'm a realtor). Taxes on a 4 bedroom home about 260K in Oswego run about 5400/year. The public schools are good so if you have kids, you won't have to pay for private school. Check out District 308's website. You could go into the southwest section of Naperville, it isn't too far. Despite what people say on this forum, Naperville is a wonderful town and there's a reason it is ranked one the best places to live in the country evey year by Money Magazine. Northern Plainfield is also an option. If you go into Aurora, look in the sections zoned for Oswego or Naperville 204. West Aurora High School isn't too bad and if you like older homes the area by the University has a wonderful selection. Most people consider West Aurora a step down from the schools in districts 204 or 308. If you don't have kids yet, you still need to know about the school districts, property values and appreciation are directly linked to the quality of the schools.
As far as other items, gas is over $2/gallon, last time I filled up it was $2.18/gallon. Childcare runs anywhere from 150-225/week depending on the age of your child. Food is about 100/week for a family of 4 if you shop the sales. On Route 59 there is a Costo where you can buy in bulk. We have so many retail stores that you should never buy anything at full price. There is an outlet mall in Aurora right off of I-88 at Farnsworth that I like. The Children's place outlet has great sales - my kid needed an orange and blue outfit for bears day so I got a pair of jeans and a nice orange top there for $10 total. My husband loves the Addidas outlet.
Good luck and if I can help you more, let me know.

Oakbrook Mom who are you kidding are taxes are so High that people are moving out of Oswego......Our gas prices are almost $3.00 gallon........
Oswego is trying to competent with Naperville....And what is so funny is Naperville move to Oswego to get away from high taxes...Now they are trying to move out of Oswego.....We have over crowd schools & 5 fire stations & the traffic is terrible in Oswego... Food $100 a week no way.......Not in Oswego it is not......

[OakBrookMom]

Anne from Oswego. If you look at my post date it was back in February and it really was a little over $2 per gallon, that seems so cheap now that it is $3.50. I know much has changed in the past 40 years out there, my family lived in West Aurora off of Orchard in the 70's. Taxes everywhere are getting higher but at least you do have a town that is trying to keep up with the development by building new schools and staffing fire/police departments. Obviously everyone's food budget is different (my kids eat peanut butter and jelly at least 3 times a week, drink water from the fridge - not bottles, and love cereal in the morning so I get by on only $30/week for the 4 of us for breakfast and lunch combined), I ate out much more when I commuted downtown for work so I understand why you might think that's an unreasonable budget. There is a wide variance from one house to another in tax bill but the majority of the 4BR 2.1BA homes on the market right now between 250-300K have a tax bill between 5100-5800, although some do run high (6000-7000) possibly because of SSAs. I personally don't think that 5000 is high for a 4 bedroom home if you estimate that 2/4 bedrooms will be occupied by at least one school aged child (many preschools cost more than $3000 for five days and that's only 2-1/2 hours). I paid $5000 in taxes 10 years ago in Chicago and was told by the neighbors that I shouldn't even think about sending a child to the public school on the corner. Your schools are overcrowded because of the wonderful reputation they have gained over the years and your town is responding to the increased need and that could mean even higher taxes but education is worth it for the future of our kids (and for your future home value appreciation). Traffic anywhere that people want to live is crazy. And it can always be worse, the Eisenhower in the morning makes Ogden look more like the expressway.

[ginatown]

Anne, I was wondering what you base your claim that Oswego taxes are so high on? Have you compared your taxes to surrounding areas? Also, have you compared the overcrowding of schools in your areas to other areas? Would you mind sharing how much you paid for your house and what you pay for taxes?

Thanks,

Gtown

Originally Posted by Anne from Oswego

Oakbrook Mom who are you kidding are taxes are so High that people are moving out of Oswego......Our gas prices are almost $3.00 gallon........
Oswego is trying to competent with Naperville....And what is so funny is Naperville move to Oswego to get away from high taxes...Now they are trying to move out of Oswego.....We have over crowd schools & 5 fire stations & the traffic is terrible in Oswego... Food $100 a week no way.......Not in Oswego it is not......

[J Randolph]

Housing will be double here in Chicagloands-- be prepared for it. Oswego is growing rapidly --pay attention to commute times!!! find a spot with 30 minutes of work--otherwise you will be commuting an hour in the bad winter weather.