Are there any Chicago suburbs with a lot of character, subway access, and safe yet affordable? (Arlington Heights: apartments, lease)

[deechee]

Yeah, there is a lot more we can do for you if there was a price range, or lifestyle that we can work with...

boy my grammar and spelling is really off today...

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

I don't think the OP is asking about the financial underpinnings of the various transit agencies. The fact is that some people find value in transit that has frequent enough headways where consulting a schedule is unnecessary. The CTA (mostly) fulfills this role, whereas Metra does not.

I really don't have a lot of confidence that they any experience with commuting in the Chicago region.

I cannot disagree that the El does run about twice as frequently as Metra during the 5AM-midnight time frame, and Metra does have a hard cut off that makes it a necessity to rely on costly taxi service as a back-up for late night jaunts.

For tremendous numbers of people that like to be able to walk around the area they live and rely on transit to get to a job and back the Chicago region has several good alternatives.

[Tiger Beer]

I can't realistically give an exact dollar number, because everything is so regional.

Chicago's cost of living is very different from New York or San Francisco, which I'm familiar, and can't afford, which is why I wouldn't be going back to them.

It seems like Chicago's cost of living is half of that...so I don't know...is your general populace in Chicago able to afford the cost of housing...because in NYC/SF, people are not.

Affordable meaning NOT expensive...but NOT ghetto. That's the best I can describe right now without knowing the cost-of-living in Chicago. Sorry, I'm not familiar enough with Chicago to give exact figures.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by chet everett

For tremendous numbers of people that like to be able to walk around the area they live and rely on transit to get to a job and back the Chicago region has several good alternatives.

I would be VERY interested in THOSE areas!

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

NOT expensive...but NOT ghetto.

So what do you consider not expensive? $100k? $200k? $500k? $1 million? $1k?

[deechee]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I can't realistically give an exact dollar number, because everything is so regional.

Chicago's cost of living is very different from New York or San Francisco, which I'm familiar, and can't afford, which is why I wouldn't be going back to them.

It seems like Chicago's cost of living is half of that...so I don't know...is your general populace in Chicago able to afford the cost of housing...because in NYC/SF, people are not.

Affordable meaning NOT expensive...but NOT ghetto. That's the best I can describe right now without knowing the cost-of-living in Chicago. Sorry, I'm not familiar enough with Chicago to give exact figures.

I see. Well, there's Edgwater, Beverly, Mount Greenwood, and Lincoln Park, as well as Wicker Park (which I have a particular fondness for). All of those are affordable neighborhoods in the CITY of Chicago.

As for the suburbs, (without knowing your pricing) I'd "blindly" recommend

North Suburbs:
Wilmette (it's in my price range)

Western Suburbs:
Forest Park
Oak Park
River Forest
Wheaton
Roselle
Schaumburg

South Suburbs:
Olympia Fields
Flossmoor
Orland Park
Tinley Park
Homewood (certain areas)
Glenwood
Palos trios
Manhattan
Monee
Crete...the list could go on and on...

[chet everett]

I think some one needs to tune up both their definition of "not expensive" and the other thing, Lincoln Park and Wilmette in the same lump as Roselle & Forest Park?

[deechee]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I think some one needs to tune up both their definition of "not expensive" and the other thing, Lincoln Park and Wilmette in the same lump as Roselle & Forest Park?

There are some parts of Forest Park and Roselle that are okay...I have friends that live there and refuse to leave. I would go with Roselle over FP.

Most of those burbs are not expensive.

[chet everett]

Actually I think MOST parts of Forest Park are at least OK for the OP's "affordable, not ghetto, good for walking around, good transportation options" . Roselle? Without a car? I know they have that new mixed use complex near their train station, but it was not really affordably priced when I last saw stuff their, and a car would sure make grocery shopping and routine errands a lot more doable there...

What would be affordable in Lincoln Park or Wilmette ?

[deechee]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Actually I think MOST parts of Forest Park are at least OK for the OP's "affordable, not ghetto, good for walking around, good transportation options" . Roselle? Without a car? I know they have that new mixed use complex near their train station, but it was not really affordably priced when I last saw stuff their, and a car would sure make grocery shopping and routine errands a lot more doable there...

What would be affordable in Lincoln Park or Wilmette ?

I once considered a condo in Wilmette...and Lincoln Park rent is reasonable.

Yeah, I guess most of FP is alright. I am there often, I must agree. I guess I overlooked the car thing in Roselle...sorry.

Then again, because I do not have a price range....it's hard to assist. My price range may not be the same as his.