best priced northern burb (Chicago, Hoffman Estates: how much, homes, public school)

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by mommy2010

I am originally a north sider. A few years back my job brought my family down to the southern burbs. I am desperate to get back up north to be closer to my family. But, you can't beat the cost of living down here! So, what northern burbs do you suggest getting the best bang for our buck!? (something under 200K, for a 3 bed 2 bath house..I know I may have to go far north but that's OK). My husband works downtown so as long as we are near a metra station, we are good ( I would just need to find a new job, haha).

thanks

I think you may have answered your own question.

[trailerguy]

Consider Park City. A brand new double-wide 3 bdrm mobile home will run about $60,000. A used one in very good condition for about half that. Space rent is about $600 a month which includes water, sewer, garbage pickup and property tax. You pay the county a mobile home use tax of about $200 a year.
If a mobile is not an option for you, there are very nice conventional houses in the west side of town for less than $200,000. The town is clean and very safe. West side and a couple of the mobile parks on the east side are in Warren school district. East of Teske Blvd is Waukegan schools.

[Dncr]

Look at Lincolnwood(it's all Niles West), Skokie(Niles West/North portion), Morton Grove(Niles West/North portion), Niles (the Niles West/North portion) Park Ridge (the Maine South portion) and Des Plaines (the Maine West portion). All these schools have above state average ACT scores. Park Ridge is going to be more expensive and have killer property taxes, but the schools are slightly better.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Dncr

Look at Lincolnwood(it's all Niles West), Skokie(Niles West/North portion), Morton Grove(Niles West/North portion), Niles (the Niles West/North portion) Park Ridge (the Maine South portion) and Des Plaines (the Maine West portion). All these schools have above state average ACT scores. Park Ridge is going to be more expensive and have killer property taxes, but the schools are slightly better.

All of Park Ridge in the Maine South boundaries and so is part of Niles, but you wont find anything in Park Ridge for $200,000.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by thePR

All of Park Ridge in the Maine South boundaries and so is part of Niles, but you wont find anything in Park Ridge for $200,000.

No, a part of Park Ridge goes to Maine East. Niles is all Maine East or Niles West/North.

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Dncr

No, a part of Park Ridge goes to Maine East. Niles is all Maine East or Niles West/North.

A part of Park Ridge can choose to go to Maine East, but all of Park Ridge is in Maine South's boundaries. Part of Niles is in School District 64 which goes to Emerson Middle school which feeds into Maine South. And then of course part of Norridge, Harwood Heights and unincorperated Norwood Park Twp.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by thePR

A part of Park Ridge can choose to go to Maine East, but all of Park Ridge is in Maine South's boundaries. Part of Niles is in School District 64 which goes to Emerson Middle school which feeds into Maine South. And then of course part of Norridge, Harwood Heights and unincorperated Norwood Park Twp.

If you could choose to go to Maine East the school would be virtually empty. If you live in Maine East portion of the district and want to attend Maine South you have to pay the Maine South property taxes, which are something like 10,000 a year.

[outtachicago]

Originally Posted by prelude91

Try Bensenville.

That's a joke, right?

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Dncr

If you could choose to go to Maine East the school would be virtually empty. If you live in Maine East portion of the district and want to attend Maine South you have to pay the Maine South property taxes, which are something like 10,000 a year.

I live in Park Ridge and attended Maine South. I know what I'm talking about.

Maine East gets people from Des Plaines, a small part of Glenview and other cites. There is no extra paying. It used to be that the Northern portion of Park Ridge went to Maine East but now you have a choice.

[Dncr]

Originally Posted by thePR

I live in Park Ridge and attended Maine South. I know what I'm talking about.

Maine East gets people from Des Plaines, a small part of Glenview and other cites. There is no extra paying. It used to be that the Northern portion of Park Ridge went to Maine East but now you have a choice.

The school is located in Park Ridge, obviously a portion of Park Ridge is going to feed into Maine East, and if they don't want to, they can pay to attend Maine South. I personally know someone who was suppose to attend Maine East, but their parents decided to send them to Maine South (and pay the 10k a year).