gay friendly suburb within 30 minutes of Chicago (Evanston, Skokie: apartment, rentals)

[savvy272]

I am looking for a 2-3 BDRhouse or a townhome that is pet-friendly to rent within 30 minutes of Chicago. I am looking to spend around a $1000 for rent, in a gay friendly area. I hear the southside is not a good area but the northside can be pricey and crowded. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions! Thanks!

Sav

[reppin_the_847]

I've heard that Oak Park may fit the bill. Anyone else care to chime in here, because I'm really not sure. The gay crowd in our metropolitan area strongly leans towards the north side of the city, but certain burbs are probably more gay friendly than others if you absolutely need to be in the suburbs. Another nice thing about Oak Park is that it has Metra & CTA access to the city. Driving distance isn't bad, but highway 290 is an absolute nightmare with the current construction.

Originally Posted by savvy272

I am looking for a 2-3 BDRhouse or a townhome that is pet-friendly to rent within 30 minutes of Chicago. I am looking to spend around a $1000 for rent, in a gay friendly area. I hear the southside is not a good area but the northside can be pricey and crowded. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions! Thanks!

Sav

[BRU67]

Berwyn, next door to Oak Park, has a large gay and lesbian population also, and he's probably more likely to find something there in his price range than in Oak Park. $1k for a house or townhome would really be pushing it in OP, unless it was run down and right on the expressway, or by Austin Ave.

[AuDiBelle]

What about staying in the city? Like Lincoln Park, although I don't know what the rents go for there. Maybe Forest Park in the suburbs?

[Humboldt1]

Forest Park and Lincoln Park are very different. 1000 is going to be hard to rent a 2-3 bed house in most burbs or parts of the city.

You can't really rent 2 bed apartment in the nicer parts of Oak Park for much less than 1200.

I don't see all those Irish bars with drunken guys straight out of college as all that gay friendly but I am not gay. Maybe someone of that persuasion can weigh in.

[Janinele]

Evanston might be a good fit as well - you have with Northwestern a big young / open crowd. and its well-connected to Chicago with the red line and the metra.

[deechee]

Southside neighborhoods like Morgan Park and Beverly are very welcoming. I lived there for a while, and I was never really aware of any gay bashing or tension. I've seen many gay (well mostly lesbian) couples.

I think Beverly fits the bill for rentals, most are about 900, but you have to act quickly, as the buildings fill up fast when there is a vacancy. I think the area around Wood and 103rd is nice. I see a mix of people (read: lesbians) lol.

I think you should check the Beverly area out. BUT, too far west of Western may be a problem, as you run into more conservative areas, like Mt. Greenwood and such.

To add on, south suburbs like Homewood, (parts of) Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, and Olympia Fields, are very gay friendly, as well as quite safe and diverse. The further south in CCH you are, the better. Some parts of Glenwood are okay too!

[NYrules]

Skokie and Evanston is LOADED with "family" and towns like Orland and Tinley Park are FILLED with "closet cases". Give you a hint on the Chicago metro area?

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by deechee

Southside neighborhoods like Morgan Park and Beverly are very welcoming. I lived there for a while, and I was never really aware of any gay bashing or tension. I've seen many gay (well mostly lesbian) couples.

I think Beverly fits the bill for rentals, most are about 900, but you have to act quickly, as the buildings fill up fast when there is a vacancy. I think the area around Wood and 103rd is nice. I see a mix of people (read: lesbians) lol.

I think you should check the Beverly area out. BUT, too far west of Western may be a problem, as you run into more conservative areas, like Mt. Greenwood and such.

To add on, south suburbs like Homewood, (parts of) Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, and Olympia Fields, are very gay friendly, as well as quite safe and diverse. The further south in CCH you are, the better. Some parts of Glenwood are okay too!

The places you mentioned: the neighborhoods and suburbs of the south side that are bit more upper-middle class to upscale: Beverly/Morgan Park, and Flossmoor/Olympia Fields/Homewood, etc. are more likely to be a bit more gay friendly, because they are bit more educated and a bit less "macho."

Just about everywhere else on the south side/suburbs are generally more blue-collared and more socially conservative. You even run into people that remind one of Walt Kowalski on Gran Torino.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by NYrules

Skokie and Evanston is LOADED with "family" and towns like Orland and Tinley Park are FILLED with "closet cases". Give you a hint on the Chicago metro area?

There are closet cases everywhere.

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

The places you mentioned: the neighborhoods and suburbs of the south side that are bit more upper-middle class to upscale: Beverly/Morgan Park, and Flossmoor/Olympia Fields/Homewood, etc. are more likely to be a bit more gay friendly, because they are bit more educated and a bit less "macho."

Just about everywhere else on the south side/suburbs are generally more blue-collared and more socially conservative. You even run into people that remind one of Walt Kowalski on Gran Torino.

I have never run into that. However, I do recommend the areas I suggested in the previous posting.