Looking to move near the city (Chicago, Rockford: condo, crime, home)

[Disneyfunteach]

Hello everyone. My wife, my son and I moved to Rockford three months ago. Though there are many great things, we are did not know there was a racial divide, really nothing to do for a working young couple, we haven't met many people, a lot of gang activity and the education jobs are very hard to come by. We are going to give Rockford one year, but wanted to know what other cities and towns closer to Chicago should we be looking at. So far we have been told about Oak Park and Evanston. Our search is throughout Chicagoland out to Elgin. I would like to know what other cities fit our criteria:

Here is what we are looking for. If you reply, thanks so much.
1) Good schools
2) Liberal or very diverse place (We are an interracial family, so we must have diversity. We are from Florida, where all my neighbors have been very diverse or gay and I loved it.)
3) Housing prices- Not to exceed $300,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house
4) Access to the Metra or CTA.
5) LOW LOW Gang activity! Actually, none, if possible.

We are pretty easy to please. We just want people to be cool, accepting and please have some youthful activities going on. Thanks for your help!

[linicx]

Did anyone send you good links to Oak Park?*

[knitgirl]

300k would be unlikely in Oak Park. I live in Elgin, it's very diverse. I like it, but then I don't have kids. It's got to have better schools than Rockford. There are gangs here, but I personally have never been affected by them and they would be more in the area where I live, near downtown, then say near Randall Rd where there's a lot of new housing. We've got the state's 2nd best symphony after the CSO, lots of events at the Hemmens Center, especially for kids. The athletic offerings also seem to be good for them. We've got 2 nice outdoor pools and an indoor pool at the rec center. My niece and nephew love the interactive fountains at Festival Park. I think Elgin is headed in the right direction. I've lived here for 12 years and moved from Lincoln Square.

[oakparkdude]

You might be able to get a condo for 300k in Oak Park. Finding a single family home in your price range will be difficult and probably impossible.

[chet everett]

The kind of "diversity" that you seem to be seeking is not going to be easy to find at your price point.

It may be useful to know if you still need to live near Rockford or is your employment is not based in the NW corridor. Similarly more info about your desire for "Good schools" needs to be expanded -- if you really want top notch schools at your price point that too is very difficult.

I can sympathize with your desire to have as safe a place as you can for the money you have to spend, and I personally would not compromise on that at all. There are lots of safe towns where you can get a decent home for $300K but mostly the schools are only going to be average at best and there won't be anything else going for the town. The region is far more expensive than the averages would have you believe...

If your desire for Metra access is a MUST (like to get to work in the Loop) and not merely a want (for recreational opportunities on the weekends) that will be a big limiting factor too.


Given that you a multiracial couple coming from Florida I can understand you concerns about 'diversity' and/or 'liberal' places, but in the broad Chicago region there are many places that indifference is the rule of the day and it may be wise merely to avoid the places that may still be more likely to harbor some folks that instead would be looking for trouble OR prepare yourself for what might be challenging but ultimately satisfying journey: Hate crime unnerves Chicago family who won lawsuit -- chicagotribune.com