Looking for a great place for a young latino family in the 'burbs. (Chicago: apartment, renting)

[ajolotl]

In Chicago "latino" and "lower or working class" go hand in hand. (compare e.g. to Miami where wealthy and professional Latinos are the rule and drive the economy). I am hispanic and would want nothing to do with any of the neighborhoods mentioned above. The only issue for me is not to live somewhere where people stare at you like a martian when you speak spanish. Chicagoland has a lot of that believe it or not (when you are in a homogeneous suburb, that is). The city and well known liberal enclaves are far more accepting and even glorify a bit the bilingual thing.

[Venom]

Melrose Park, Northlake, Maywood, Berwyn, North Riverside, Franklin Park... all near suburbs

[Lookout Kid]

I've worked with a lot of professional Latinos in Chicago, and many of them seem to stay close to where their extended families live. I'm talking about architects and engineers mostly. But often times they will move to the "nicer side of Aurora", or the "nicer side of Glendale Heights". Latinos really are a major presence in the suburbs now.

[B2O2C]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

In Chicago "latino" and "lower or working class" go hand in hand. (compare e.g. to Miami where wealthy and professional Latinos are the rule and drive the economy). I am hispanic and would want nothing to do with any of the neighborhoods mentioned above. The only issue for me is not to live somewhere where people stare at you like a martian when you speak spanish. Chicagoland has a lot of that believe it or not (when you are in a homogeneous suburb, that is). The city and well known liberal enclaves are far more accepting and even glorify a bit the bilingual thing.

My only issue with living in the city is that you pay more and don't get much land. We were really wanting a yard in a quiet area.

[Lookout Kid]

I think that most of the western suburbs, apart from the really richie richie ones like Hinsdale, have a significant Latino or Hispanic presence in this day and age. Latinos are achieving economic success and looking for the same things that earlier European immigrants looked for in the suburbs.

If you're looking at 2000 Census demographics for various suburbs, realize that these numbers are woefully out of date in 2009.

[outlaw79]

There a town called momence an hour from Chicago by 2 highways very nice white and latino my wife is anyways we have a house rent here or sell 1200 a month 3000 sqft point is nice quiet and cheap river town. Otherwise your looking at Chicago Heights

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by outlaw79

Otherwise your looking at Chicago Heights

And why is that?

To the OP, Chicago Heights is a bit of a hell hole. The idea that your choices are Momence or Chicago Heights is pretty ridiculous.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by chitown85

Berwyn has some Puerto Ricans. Cicero is predominantly Mexican. Most of the NW and W burbs are Mexican. Aurora has a lot of Hispanics, but am unsure of their ethnicity.

In the city, Humboldt Park is the heart of Puerto Rican Chicago.

Aurora hispanic population is Mexican too. 7 out of 10 are Mexicans in Chicagoland. There are no suburbs where Puerto Ricans are the dominant hispanic group. Most PRs still live in the city on the NW side.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by B2O2C

My only issue with living in the city is that you pay more and don't get much land. We were really wanting a yard in a quiet area.

It doesn't have to be the city. You just want to be somewhere where people don't automatically assume you are the dishwasher if you speak spanish. As usual, unless you have been in that position you don't realize how common this is. Of course in latino neighborhoods it isn't the case, but most of the latino neighborhoods are at best average, and more often they are pretty dumpy. And of course it isn't most people that react this way, just maybe 20% or so. If you see a few hundred people a day, that's still kind of annoying.

Also, you can get a nice yard in the city on the edges or so-called inner ring suburbs.

[Opkl]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

In Chicago "latino" and "lower or working class" go hand in hand. (compare e.g. to Miami where wealthy and professional Latinos are the rule and drive the economy). I am hispanic and would want nothing to do with any of the neighborhoods mentioned above. The only issue for me is not to live somewhere where people stare at you like a martian when you speak spanish. Chicagoland has a lot of that believe it or not (when you are in a homogeneous suburb, that is). The city and well known liberal enclaves are far more accepting and even glorify a bit the bilingual thing.

Really? I didn't know that. Good for you.