Cary, opinions??? (Chicago, Des Plaines, Crystal Lake: best neighborhoods, sales, home)

[lisaurart]

Hi again everyone:

We are moving all too soon and I have been monitoring the boards on a regular basis, finding it extremely helpful. It is a company move so we do have months worth of temp housing, we can take our time somewhat. I have checked the HSchools and know to avoid Dundee by my research but that Prairie Ridge and Cary Grove have 10/10 ratings--

A few questons about Cary:
Feel free to answer as few or many with which you may have some knowledge.

1. Any other concerns with regard to either of the HSchools I mentioned?

2. How rural is it? Still close(within 10 minutes drive) to good stores, places to eat?

3.Forget mapquest , how would the commute be to Des Plaines?

4. Anyone have any experience with well and or septics??

5. General feelings about Cary.(I hope there is some quality within the 'cookie cutterness!')

Thanks in advance.
Lisa

[nanannie]

Cary is fine-(I live next door in Barrington)..It is a suburban town on the metra line to the city.It does have some 'cookie-cutter' developments ,but nice older neighborhoods as well.I really like "Trout Valley" the best neighborhoods in all of Cary(IMHO),a lovely area that is hilly,heavily wooded and runs along the Fox River.Schools are good and all the shopping convienieces you would need are in Cary or close by.Crystal Lake is a huge place with more shopping and is right next door. I have not heard any "bad" about Dundee,I think its a great 'burb and more "charming" then Cary.Cary to Des Plaines is a straight shot down 14,,easy route,traffic at rush hour is not as bad as the free- ways,but there are many many stop lights on 14. I think the metra(train) stops in Des Plaines from Cary-THAT would be the ticket for a commute--quick and easy.Good Luck

[lisaurart]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Cary is fine-(I live next door in Barrington)..It is a suburban town on the metra line to the city.It does have some 'cookie-cutter' developments ,but nice older neighborhoods as well.I really like "Trout Valley" the best neighborhoods in all of Cary(IMHO),a lovely area that is hilly,heavily wooded and runs along the Fox River.Schools are good and all the shopping convienieces you would need are in Cary or close by.Crystal Lake is a huge place with more shopping and is right next door. I have not heard any "bad" about Dundee,I think its a great 'burb and more "charming" then Cary.Cary to Des Plaines is a straight shot down 14,,easy route,traffic at rush hour is not as bad as the free- ways,but there are many many stop lights on 14. I think the metra(train) stops in Des Plaines from Cary-THAT would be the ticket for a commute--quick and easy.Good Luck

Thanks very much for the info and opinions, it is appreciated. As far as Dundee goes, it is the HS I checked into and it only scored a 3/10 whereas Cary-Grove and Prarie Grove are both rated 10/10. That is the only 'bad' aspect that caused me concern. My son has been going to a small international school in London and it is going to be a tough transition either way.

Thanks again.
Lisa

[LkZurichMom]

Check into Barrington and Lake Zurich too. Closer to DPL. More shopping alternatives and Lake county doesn't hit you as badly as McHenry County on RE taxes. McHenry county has little shopping compared to town in nearby Lake County, and as a result they have no sales tax revenue, so they make it up by charging more on RE tax. Lake will hit you for 1.5-2%, Mchenry for 3-4%. That a big chunk of your yearly equity increase.

[yogomoto]

Cary looks really nice. I actually looked at a home in Trout Valley and thought the community was wonderful. It's so close to Barrington yet the prices are so much less.

[pw72]

Cary is part of a cluster of far NW Chicago suburbs that include Crystal Lake, Algonquin, and McHenry. Nice mix of big-city suburban feel and smaller town feel. Plus less expensive than places east like Barrington. Big city suburban and horses in the same area. If that is what you are into, I highly recommend!