Need suburb advice (Chicago, Naperville, Arlington Heights: rental, crime, townhouse)

[Nea1]

HI, we are planning on moving to the area. Short and sweet.
Renting, up to $1700 3 brms. Homes or townhouse is fine. Good schools, (high and middle)shopping, parks, within 40 miles of Chicago. I can work most towns ( medical office) and husband is Union construction. We like trees( but if not that's ok) and older or newer homes work. Thanks!

[chitown85]

Northwest, West, or Southwest suburbs could fit your criteria. To stratify it further, my opinion would be NW burbs.

Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Park Ridge, Hoffman Estates.

Schaumburg might be your best option until you get to know Chicagoland. Schaumburg has 140 shopping centers, dozens of parks, and one of the largest shopping malls in America. The homes are lower rent due to very low property taxes and good schools.

It is a good transition community.

[nanannie]

I would suggest Elmhurst, Arlington Hts, Palatine.
Not sure about rental pricing here but Glen Ellyn,St Charles/Geneva areas also lovely burbs. All have easy Metra trains to downtown Chicago and all have nice downtown/villages, good schools,alot of parks, heavy on the trees and beautiful n'hoods. I dont care for Schaumburg. Its strip malls and sub divisions and tremendous traffic. Good for shopping, but very lacking in any charm or town appeal.

[BurrRidge Cub]

Hinsdale is a great area, with excellent schools. Western Springs area is nice, not sure they rent out much, but still nice area. Everyone always suggests the naperville area, although might be a little too far from the city for you.

Burr Ridge is a very pricey area, I also like the Downers Grove, Darien areas.

Addison is nice, as I used to owrk there, but not real sure of the schools there.

You can check on the schools at GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community.

[Steve-o]

Naperville, Schaumburg, Hinsdale come to mind. Hinsdale might be hard to find something in your price range, but probably not as hard as youd think (economy taken into perspective).

[Nea1]

Anyone have an opinion on NW Indiana, and if that would be an option?

Thanks

[chitown85]

There are several options in NW Indiana. My advice is to stay out of Lake County, Indiana, which contains Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago.

Of course these are suburbs close to Chicago, but the areas are crime ridden and the schools terrible. You could go a little further south to Dyer.

[ihynes]

Originally Posted by Nea1

Anyone have an opinion on NW Indiana, and if that would be an option?

Thanks

I know several people who work in downtown Chicago but live around Merrillville, Crown Point or Lowell, Indiana, and they are very happy with the rents. Schools I'm not sure about.