Where to live in the Suburbs of Chicago? (Arlington Heights, Evanston: how much, new home)

[ShakerHeightsGuy]

I grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights. I have lived in this community all my life. I just landed a job as a Financial Advisor in Chicago. I am 29 and my wife is 26. We have one son who is 4 months old. I have friends who live in Kenilworth (I could not possibly afford the homes), and they say that the northside is the best place. I like the school ratings of the far north and northwest suburbs. I am looking for a place with good schools, affordable homes, very quiet, and very wooded with lots of parks. I've heard about the Gurnee area but I felt that the schools were not good enough. I am also considering the western suburbs.

Thank You to anyone that helps!

[outsider1]

Based on your job title's salary, age, current residence(I have only a limited idea. I know someone who lived there through the 1990ies) and other requirements concentrate on these:

-Arlington Heights
-Buffalo Grove(Lake county part for the sake of a very top high school, though Cook county part is rather similar)
-Lake Zurich
-Deerfield
-Highland Park(best choice for you. although difficult but maybe possible if you're willing to sacrifice sq.footage)
-Wilmette(second choice after HP)
- Long Grove
- Northfield

[ChicagoBroker]

You might consider Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Downers Grove. All great schools, parks, homes. Depending on your price range you can get wooded, at a premium. If you want new construction, that is available too. They are definately worth investigating. Good luck!

[outsider1]

Glencoe is definitely worth a look. Much like Wilmette, a bit higher in price, seems more spacious, a bit more liberal. Gets prettier the closer you get to the Lake Michigan.

Winnetka? Well, it sort of pretends to be Kenilworth by trying to match it in price. I once knew a sociologist who conducted a research on this place for several years. Seems like a "keep up with the neighbors" playground, but the stakes are much higher than in usual suburbia. The same is not evident in other North Shore towns.

Do some research on Highland Park. You'll probably like it as much if not more.

By the way, North Shore is the term that defines a very affluent area along the Lake Michigan - northeast part of Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest. A lot of "old money" there. Some of the richest towns in the country. Easy access to Lake Michigan, prettier architecture/city planning and other similar amenities make the quality of life much batter than in other richer places such as Long Grove, Barrington or Deer Park for instance.

[outsider1]

... and just in case you want a taste of a high quality urban living.... here's another suggestion - I don't intend to badmouth the great city of Cleveland, but certain areas of Chicago's lakefront may just be a step above in the quality of life department. If you're intersted to be very close to all the good things that Chicago has to offer, and yet live in an affluent and fairly safe area, then you might want to take a closer look at a Chicago neighborhood called Lincoln Park.

[domergurl]

Look into Highland Park. It's north shore and the schools are very good.

[BLS28]

im not sure if this is a place that you would consider...
but, Lemont IL is a very nice place to live.
they have very very good schools, and the housing is affordable. Not to mention, the town itself is amazing. A very safe place too.
its a little bit of a drive to get to chicago, but if you like the town, it's well worth it!

[sumacmike]

I have just decided to sell my house on Sumac Road. It is a great neighborhood with a lot of nice kids, and is incredibly convenient to all major expressways and many small towns like downtown Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Lake Forest, etc. Let me know if you would like to learn more about this neighborhood, the North Shore or even about my house. I went to grade school at Joseph Sears in Kenilworth and high school in Lake Forest.

[TransplantedNortheaster]

ShakerHeightsGuy, it sounds like you have your heart set on Kenilworth. It's a lovely community, to be sure. I lived there during the 1980's and loved it. Just so you know, though, the median annual income in Kenilworth is currently around $300,000. Unless you make at least that much annually, I would strongly encourage you to either look elsewhere or stay where you are until you have enough annual income. Being able to afford a $1million home is really not enough for living in Kenilworth (assuming you can even *find* a home that cheap there). In order to live comfortably there, you really need to be able to keep up with the taxes (which are very high there) and a certain standard of living.

As a homeowner in Highland Park now, where I have chosen to rear my children, I am bemused by your report of the number of computers at your local elementary school. I hope you don't mind my saying so, but I find it hard to believe that your local elementary school "has only 10 computers." Our own Highland Park elementary school (only a couple of miles away from you) has 27 computers in the Computer Lab *alone*. In addition, each classroom has *at least* 3 computers (with printer), with the older grades (4th and 5th) having several more per classroom. Red Oak School (the school into which I assume you would feed) surely is more than capable of maintaining Highland Park's general standards, including those regarding technology. (Red Oak also has an impressive Science Lab--unusual in elementary schools in the area.)

I can well understand your desire to live near your friend in Kenilworth. As a transplant myself, I know how much it means to live near people from our hometown area. But I would caution you to not be too hasty, either in dismissing Highland Park schools (which in recent years have been rated higher than Joseph Sears), or in rushing to buy a home in a village (i.e. Kenilworth), unless you make enough in *annual* income to enjoy a decent, if not fully comfortable, standard of living.

Wishing you the best of luck with your new job, your new home(s), and your little one.

[Joe107]

Shakerheights guy,
I would focus on Dupage county. It's the wealthiest county in the state. Very conservative though. Alot of traders from Board of Trade and Merc live there. Rick Santelli -famous CNBC financial anchor- lives in Wheaton. Dupage's county seat.