Newbie question about where to live (Chicago, Cicero: apartments, condo, townhouse)

[pfc]

So where would you live if you had a job in Downer's Grove, and wanted a decent commute(20-30 minutes max, with traffic) to both downtown and the workplace, and also access to both downtown and Downer's Grove by metro/train etc.

From my research Oak Park comes to mind. Any others? Thank you!

[tonythetuna]

Not really.

[Vlajos]

Oak Park seems perfect.

[SJaye]

I think it partially depends on your price range, as well as how frequent of service you want downtown. The METRA Burlington Northern Santa Fe line connects Downers Grove with downtown. Apartments/housing near some of the stations in the middle in Cicero, Berwyn, Riverside, and Western Springs are cheaper than Oak Park. Oak Park gives you access to the Green line and blue line, with the blue line running 24/7. So, if you plan to go out at night in Chicago, have some drinks, etc. from time to time, you'd want to be along the blue line in Oak Park or Forrest Park (the end of the line).

[oakparkdude]

Oak Park has no direct train service to Downer's Grove. Its not too far a drive though.

[OrangeAndBlue]

I don't think such a place exists. Driving between downtown Chicago and Downer's Grove during rush hour traffic is an hour or more, so I doubt you'll find a place that will be within a 30 minute drive to BOTH places during that time.

Nevertheless, Oak Park is probably close. The train ride from there to the Loop is less than 30 minutes, but I think you'd still need more than 30 minutes to drive to Downers Grove from Oak Park.

Otherwise just about any suburb along the BNSF metra should work well. That train will get you into the Loop quickly and you could be closer to Downers Grove to drive there. I'm not sure, but I bet an express BNSF train will probably get you to the Loop in 30 minutes or less even from Downers Grove. If you really want to be in the city, pick the West Loop with close access to I-290, but you'd be looking at about an hour commute driving to Downers Grove.

[nidex]

I don't see the drive from Oak Park to Downers Grove being 20-30 minutes. Maybe on a Sunday morning, but any other time that probably won't happen. You're going to have to decide what's more important to you: being close to the city, or being closer to work.

[pfc]

Thanks for all the replies. Having the 24 hour train from Oak Park to downtown certainly is a nice convenience, as we would probably go for some night-outs every once in a while.

Now having train access to Downer's Grove would also be pretty cool, so we need to consider some of those other neighborhoods that were mentioned as well.

As far as price range, we would be looking for a 3 bedroom ( could be apartment, house, or condo/townhouse), with attached garage, and would hope to spend no more than $2000/month. Is this unrealistic?


Thanks!

[jsk1983]

You"ll probably have no trouble finding a 3 bedroom in that price range, but is an attached garage really that important? Seems like it would be hard to find in the older neighborhoods.

[pfc]

Well I've lived in Iowa City and Denver for 4 years combined, so it is just a nice convenience to have with all the snow.