Where to live if working in Joliet? (Chicago, Naperville: section 8, rent)

[Mary_Anne]

Hi everyone. We are a family of four relocating from FL to IL in August of this year. Husband is doing a doctoral internship, partly in Joliet and partly in Dwight. I'm a psychologist. We have two boys ages 1 and 4.

If my husband is working 1/2 in Joliet and 1/2 in Dwight, where should we live? Don't want a huge commute but willing to deal with maybe 30 miles one way if he has to. I'd also like to be within reasonable distance to downtown Chicago in case I get work there. We want a safe, family-friendly community and would like to keep rent under about $1200 or so. Thanks in advance!

[JALP]

I would suggest looking in Morris, Elwood or Shorewood.

[Footbridge]

I would suggest Lockport. Only about 4 miles from Joliet - my home town. Such a wonderful home town feel, has historic significance and modern at the same time.

[alm71]

I can think of nothing nice to say for Joliet to be honest. High crime, and on the rise due to HUD relocations of Section 8 (welfare) people from Chicago. Schools are terrible, almost noone has beyond a high school education here, and even they will strike you as less. The high school here has a teenage pregnancy rate that makes you wonder if they have books or dirty mags in the classroom. The big Catholic high school had a major drug bust last year with an exstasy and cocaine ring. Complacency born and bred in Joliet. Nowhere to shop, only one half decent mall (Louis Joliet) - which incidentally is located in just about the only area that is kinda nice. Mom and pop shops which get closed down regularly is your shopping choice for the most part.

I am from Chicago (Lincoln Park) and came here for a professional job - ugghhhh.
Try Naperville, Lombard, or Skorewood is OK. Be wary of Joliet, Crest Hill, and Lockport. Lemont too.

[BWJ22]

I would suggest Coal City or Braidwood...great schools, small but growing towns (About 6,000 population each) and right next to Interstate 55. Dwight is just a 15min drive south on I-55 and Joliet would be a 25 min drive north on I-55. Braidwood's elementary schools (Reed-Custer School District) were just rated some of the best in the county by Chicago magazine. And Coal city is constructing a brand new early child development center. (K-2)

[taylor400]

Morris is pretty much right in the middle. 30 minutes to Joliet, 20 minutes to Dwight. Have you decided anything yet?

[preppyboyofIL]

I would strongly recommend you look at the town of Minooka. Minooka is a major "boom" town right now where people with kids are flooding out to as it is almost all new. Neighborhoods are popping up all over the place and nearby is Morris with it's shopping such as Super Wal Mart and such. Minooka is about 20 minutes west of Joliet, a basically white collar, all white community with mostly single family homes on 1/4-1/2 acre lots. Homes run about $250-350K and taxes are still relatively low in comparison with areas such as Lockport or Plainfield. Here is a link for you to check out. Minooka

Good Luck!

[Mary_Anne]

We have rented a house in Naperville. I'm going to be working in Wheaton, Hinsdale, and Elgin, and my husband will be working in Joliet and Dwight (waaaaay south), so avoiding a commute for either of us just wasn't possible. We're excited about the move, however, and I thank those of you who responded with your suggestions!