Top 5 Suburbs and Bottom 5 Suburbs (Chicago, Oak Park: best suburbs, low crime, houses)

[ajolotl]

Without over-thinking the question the five most prestigious that immediately come to mind are:

1. Kenilworth
2. Lake Forest
3. Wilmette
4. Winnetka
5. Hindsale

I'm probably missing all sorts of obvious ones, but that is my gut reaction. This is just for fun after all.

Asking about the five worst seems in poor taste to some -- maybe a bit insensitive and voyeuristic, maybe even mocking. Anyhow people almost always have no basis for their opinions other than boilerplate crime stats, school rankings, and the number of black people, all things which anyone can look up online. Rarely has anyone spent enough time in even one let alone several of these areas to give any deeper insight.

That said here is my list, just based on reputation, not any knowledge that I have:
1. Harvey
2. Maywood
3-5. Those other places near Harvey that are almost as bad

[Opkl]

Im shocked that At1WithNature didn't reply yet.

[middle-aged mom]

Assuming top means most expensive homes .....

Barrington Hills
Burr Ridge
Glenco
Highland Park
Hinsdale
Kennilworth
Lake Bluff
Lake Forest
South Barrington
Oak Brook
Wilmette
Winnetka

Not all homes in these areas are upper tier pricing.

Right now, the highest asking price in the Chicagoland MLS, is in Barrington Hills at $17MM.

[chitown85]

I don't understand why someone made this thread. This is a ridiculous conversation. It happens over and over. We all have been told time and time again the top three wealthiest areas of Chicagoland are the North Shore, Barrington area, and not sure of the region, but DuPage----Oak Brook, parts of Naperville, etc.

Likewise, we all have been told on this forum and on the news that the most crime ridden and poverty stricken areas of Chicagoland are Maywood, Harvey, and the areas around Harvey.

Nobody on this forum knows what it is like to live in those areas, or be in those areas for any length of time, so why bother asking?

[Milwaukee City]

Nobody on this forum knows what it is like to live in those areas, or be in those areas for any length of time, so why bother asking?

Wrong! I grew up in a area of Milwaukee that average 25 homicides a year, not bragging just calling you out!

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by chitown85

I don't understand why someone made this thread. This is a ridiculous conversation. It happens over and over. We all have been told time and time again the top three wealthiest areas of Chicagoland are the North Shore, Barrington area, and not sure of the region, but DuPage----Oak Brook, parts of Naperville, etc.

Likewise, we all have been told on this forum and on the news that the most crime ridden and poverty stricken areas of Chicagoland are Maywood, Harvey, and the areas around Harvey.

Nobody on this forum knows what it is like to live in those areas, or be in those areas for any length of time, so why bother asking?

smh- people on these forums come from all walks of life albeit some a little more breast feed than others, but you never know who you're communicating with on the other side of the computer

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by chitown85

I don't understand why someone made this thread. This is a ridiculous conversation. It happens over and over. We all have been told time and time again the top three wealthiest areas of Chicagoland are the North Shore, Barrington area, and not sure of the region, but DuPage----Oak Brook, parts of Naperville, etc.

Likewise, we all have been told on this forum and on the news that the most crime ridden and poverty stricken areas of Chicagoland are Maywood, Harvey, and the areas around Harvey.

Nobody on this forum knows what it is like to live in those areas, or be in those areas for any length of time, so why bother asking?

Actually I do live on the North Shore as do several other posters. There are also posters who are familiar with many of the crime ridden areas even if they dont live there.

[bulldawg1594]

Best:
1. winnetka
2. wilmette
3. lake forest
4. deerfield
5. highland park

Worst:
5. Calumet City
4. Dolton
3. Harvey
2. Robbins
1. Ford Heights

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by chitown85

I don't understand why someone made this thread. This is a ridiculous conversation. It happens over and over. We all have been told time and time again the top three wealthiest areas of Chicagoland are the North Shore, Barrington area, and not sure of the region, but DuPage----Oak Brook, parts of Naperville, etc.

Likewise, we all have been told on this forum and on the news that the most crime ridden and poverty stricken areas of Chicagoland are Maywood, Harvey, and the areas around Harvey.

Nobody on this forum knows what it is like to live in those areas, or be in those areas for any length of time, so why bother asking?

Good point. BUT, I comment on areas I have seen with my own eyes. Could be I have driven through them many times during my 44 years in the area, could be I have spent time working/making sales calls in these areas or I have lived in these areas. So I'm not going into the "hearsay" comments. All based on personal observation. So yes I have explored Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park and to a lesser degree the other towns I mentioned. I worked in Winnetka and Glencoe. Now its been a while, but I used to make frequent sales calls to all the schools in the Cook Co. parts of Western Suburbs. To my pasty a** suburban eyes, Maywood has some rough sections. So does Ford Heights. Honestly, I spend far more time in the nicer areas than the not nice areas. Call it personal preference.
So many of us do get out from behind the computer screen from time to time.

[ajolotl]

everyone drives through rough areas. Ranking them 1 to 5 based on a drive-by is a bit ridiculous, though. I have to agree with cubssoxfan on that one.

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Good point. BUT, I comment on areas I have seen with my own eyes. Could be I have driven through them many times during my 44 years in the area, could be I have spent time working/making sales calls in these areas or I have lived in these areas. So I'm not going into the "hearsay" comments. All based on personal observation. So yes I have explored Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park and to a lesser degree the other towns I mentioned. I worked in Winnetka and Glencoe. Now its been a while, but I used to make frequent sales calls to all the schools in the Cook Co. parts of Western Suburbs. To my pasty a** suburban eyes, Maywood has some rough sections. So does Ford Heights. Honestly, I spend far more time in the nicer areas than the not nice areas. Call it personal preference.
So many of us do get out from behind the computer screen from time to time.