Chicago burbs...Lincolnwood (Skokie, Des Plaines, Glenview: neighborhoods, high schools, airport)

[kimberlykeno]

Hello,
My husband just took a job in Niles, IL. We will be relocating soon. I'm wondering if anyone has feedback regarding Parkridge or Lincolnwood area. Our son will be in 10th grade so we want an area with good schools. I love the city and would like to be as close as we can afford.
Thanks

[Lookout Kid]

Park Ridge is a bit more charming than Lincolnwood, though both have their share of showy teardowns mucking up once cohesive streets. Park Ridge also has a small, walkable downtown area near the Metra station. Lincolnwood is heavily Jewish, and seems to be a more upscale version of Skokie (at least that's what it looks like to me).

[chet everett]

Not sure about the religious / ethnic make-up of Lincolnwood, but I do agree that for the most part Park Ridge has more charm. Its high school, Maine South, also merits a Silver in the US News evaluation, while the Nile schools (which serve Lincolnwood ) do not rank..

Maine South High School: Best High Schools - USNews.com

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Park Ridge is a bit more charming than Lincolnwood, though both have their share of showy teardowns mucking up once cohesive streets. Park Ridge also has a small, walkable downtown area near the Metra station. Lincolnwood is heavily Jewish, and seems to be a more upscale version of Skokie (at least that's what it looks like to me).

Ditto

[US-Traveller]

I think Park Ridge is definitely a nice place to take a look at. It is less cosmopolitan and less convenient to the city neighborhoods than Lincolnwood, on top of it being more expensive. I never got the impression that Lincolnwood had a lot of Jewish people, the overall vibe I get from Lincolnwood is that there is a large Croatian and Greek population. I would say that Park Ridge's schools are marginally better.

I would also take a look at Glenview, Skokie, and Golf in addition to Park Ridge and Lincolnwood.

[kimberlykeno]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like we should start with Park Ridge.

[US-Traveller]

Be careful of airport noise in Park Ridge and flooding in Glenview/Golf!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

Be careful of airport noise in Park Ridge and flooding in Glenview/Golf!

Yes, the airplane noise is a bigger issue in western Park Ridge and Des Plaines. But you want to stay away from the Des Plaines River for sure. It's been flooding more and more in recent years.

[Venom]

Damn lookout, you've been everywhere.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Venom

Damn lookout, you've been everywhere.

I really only know the inner suburbs and the North Shore up to Wisconsin. Ask me about Will and Dupage Counties and I don't know jack (except for Hinsdale and Oak Brook). Though my mom is from Hammond, so I know a little about Hammond, Calumet City, and Gary.