Moving back to IL - need a central 'burb to Huntley, Dekalb & Plainfield (Chicago: houses)

[irisheyes99]

Moving back to IL this summer after living 4 years in WA (I grew up in NW 'burbs and husband in SW 'burbs). We have family spread out in Huntley, DeKalb and Plainfield and would ideally like to live somewhere that would be sort of in the middle of all 3. Recently we've looked at West Chicago as a possibility, but reviews of the town have been largely mixed. Are there other towns/cities that we might be overlooking? We're also looking to buy a 3 or 4 bdrm home in the $200K range. Schools and safety of course will be important to us as well. Husband will be working from home, so commute is not an issue. We also like to be in a neighborhood that doesn't require a car for every single errand. Are there any towns/cities you would rule out completely for reasons that may not be obvious to (sort of) out-of-towners? Any tips/advice will be much appreciated.

[chet everett]

Wow. Draw a triangle with points at Dekalb, Plainfield and Huntley and you will find nothing that makes getting from to the other "ideal". I suppose "Elburn" is about as central as you can get to each, but man, that ain't really an easy drive to any...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,1.060181&z=10

And maybe a tiny portion of Elburn is gonna fall into to "walkable" category. The houses that might are pretty darn few to pick from. If they are in the $200K range they are gonna OLD and in need WORK...
Area is safe, schools are not the worst, but hardly worth moving for (and some are crowded and not well funded, so taxes are high, not an incentive...).

You like "character"?? http://www.redfin.com/IL/Elburn/300-.../home/16984942

Why did you think West Chicago would be an option? Not any closer, not really safer, schools are worse...

[chitown85]

Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Sreamwood. Not far from any of those places you need to get to, except Plainfield may be a little trek. You may have to push your budget up slightly for a 4 bedroom.

[Mr. Whips]

Batavia could be a place to consider.

[bulldawg1594]

aurora or oswego

[jlawrence01]

Or Sycamore, IL.

[irisheyes99]

Funny you mention Sycamore, Jlawrence01. We just started looking there and are seriously considering it. Do you have any experience/feedback with the town?

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by irisheyes99

Funny you mention Sycamore, Jlawrence01. We just started looking there and are seriously considering it. Do you have any experience/feedback with the town?

I lived there, but only for a year... its a nice, small town. Safe, decently priced, growing. 15 minutes to St. Charles, 20 to Geneva. The worst thing about Sycamore is you can smell the farms sometimes and its close to DeKalb, which I never really liked. lol

[jlawrence01]

It is a pleasant and affordable town that is a suburb of DeKalb. You are close enough to the university for various events but far enough to avoid all the student housing and the like.

[mattandame]

Cortland and Waterman have much more affordable housing than DeKalb or Sycamore. I think maybe because those towns really don't have any infrastructure. There is also Virgil, Wasco, LaFox, Elburn, Maple Park, Kaneland etc. The last 6 I just mentioned are in Kane County and I believe the taxes in that county are a little bit higher. Something to think about when you are looking at housing