Naperville? (Chicago, Aurora, Warrenville: apartment complexes, crime, townhouse)

[B2O2C]

So I've been doing some research on Chicago Suburbs for the move the husband and I plan to make sometime in the future.... time line undecided as of yet. I've been looking into Naperville and it seems to have what I want... affordable homes but good sized homes, good school system, proximity to the city....

but I'm unsure if it has easy access to public transportation, decent apartments (at a good price, not for me, but for my mom who's coming with us), and some level of diversity. Can anyone shed some light on Naperville for me? Thanks so much!

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by B2O2C

So I've been doing some research on Chicago Suburbs for the move the husband and I plan to make sometime in the future.... time line undecided as of yet. I've been looking into Naperville and it seems to have what I want... affordable homes but good sized homes, good school system, proximity to the city....

but I'm unsure if it has easy access to public transportation, decent apartments (at a good price, not for me, but for my mom who's coming with us), and some level of diversity. Can anyone shed some light on Naperville for me? Thanks so much!

Use the "Search" feature in the upper right hand corner of your screen. You'll find that Naperville is chock full of creamy goodness!

[B2O2C]

Awesome and thanks!

[GolfLover2]

B202C:
Naperville is consistently rated one of the Midwest's/Illinois top cities because of its many great features. It's accessible to Chicago, accessible to the surrounding suburbs for employment, shopping, churches, and more. It's been a rapidly growing community for the last decade and has the typical congestion felt in much of this area. A mix of housing and prices can be found in and around the area, so if not directly within Naperville itself ... something close-by should be available for your mother. There is a good supply of homes/apts. available as well. The schools in the area are good quality.
If I can be of further assistance, please write ... Best of luck!

[MTUCache]

I just recently moved to Aurora (just west of Naperville) with my family. Actually, we're in the process of making that move right now.

There seemed to be a pretty wide range of options for housing, as long as you were willing to start around $800/month for a 1BR apartment. We ended up getting a 2BR/2.5Bath/+Loft townhouse for $1300/month, although you could go MUCH higher than that if you wanted.

Public transportation is a bit sparse this far out of the city. There are PACE bus routes that you can catch, but they're not exactly convenient for non-commuters. Obviously the Metra stations (both Naperville and the 59 station) are crazy during the rush periods, and parking/traffic around them can be a hassle, but it's not any better or worse than other places I've been to.

As for diversity, I have noticed a tiny bit of it, but it's a pretty monochrome area really. Certain neighborhoods will obviously vary, and we've met people of all races/creeds, but I definitely wouldn't call this area "diverse" the way Chicago is.

Honestly, we've found all of Chicagoland to be ridiculously expensive, but most of that is just perspective.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by MTUCache

Honestly, we've found all of Chicagoland to be ridiculously expensive, but most of that is just perspective.

Check out around New York or LA, you will see the Chicago area is a real bargain.

[bulldawg1594]

the most diverse neighborhood/school in naperville is longwood. i went to the elementary school and i liked going there a lot.

Interactive Illinois Report Card

the route 59 metra station is right across the street from the neighborhood. and it is the cheapest part of naperville.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by B2O2C

So I've been doing some research on Chicago Suburbs for the move the husband and I plan to make sometime in the future.... time line undecided as of yet. I've been looking into Naperville and it seems to have what I want... affordable homes but good sized homes, good school system, proximity to the city....

but I'm unsure if it has easy access to public transportation, decent apartments (at a good price, not for me, but for my mom who's coming with us), and some level of diversity. Can anyone shed some light on Naperville for me? Thanks so much!

Well, Naperville's not exactly in close proximity to Chicago, but is serviced very well with express and regular Metra trains (as well as 2 Metra depots) and is covered pretty well by several taxi services. Naperville's home prices arent exactly "affordable", especially compared with nearby towns like Warrenville, Plainfield, Aurora, etc. There are many apartment complexes in the city, I recommend Railway Plaza or Bristol Station as theyre literally right next to the North Aurora Rd Metra station. There isnt too much diversity, most of the town is Caucasion, but also with a decently sizeable Asian and Indian community. Crime in Naperville is very low, too, and shopping is overly abundant in all areas of town for the most part. The downtown area is thriving and is always packed on the weekends, especially in summer. Festivals are amongst the best in the state (ie Last Fling and Ribfest).