A question for all Chicago residents with kids... (Evanston, Oak Park: neighborhood, good schools)

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by nJohn

You know how annoying people can get when they live on the border of Chicago proper? Really freakin' annoying. It's as funny as Sarah Palin spying on the Russians from her house.

Really the people who live on either side of the border are probably just the same.

Suburban issues will be different that city issues. If you choose a city with good public schools you won"t go throught the anguish of your kid not getting into the private/magnet school you wanted. If you're looking that close to the border, people from the closer in neighborhoods will consider you a suburbanite anyway.

[oakparkdude]

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I'll suggest the village of Oak Park for consideration. You'll be closer to the Loop than Jefferson Park, and you'll have excellent public schools (and police) as well. From what I've seen, many parts of Oak Park have a more urban feel than Jeff Park as well. True, you won't be able to brag about having a312 or 773 area code, but you can tell your friends about all the awesome FLW houses in your neighborhood.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

...but you can tell your friends about all the awesome FLW houses in your neighborhood.

Or at least in a nearby neighborhood! The FLW District houses ain't cheap! If I moved to Oak Park, I fear I'd either be cut off by a six-lane expressway or on the edge of a horrible ghetto. I may still do it some day, however. I'm leaning towards Southwest Oak Park in the Lincoln School District...

For now we're happy raising our daughter in the city, and will be until schools become an issue. Then we'll have to re-evaulate our North Side life.

[oakparkdude]

Additionally, you can keep your Chicago area code on your cell phone so as to maintain you street cred. I've lived in Chicagoland for almost 4 years and I still have my 617 Boston area code.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I'll suggest the village of Oak Park for consideration. You'll be closer to the Loop than Jefferson Park, and you'll have excellent public schools (and police) as well. From what I've seen, many parts of Oak Park have a more urban feel than Jeff Park as well. True, you won't be able to brag about having a312 or 773 area code, but you can tell your friends about all the awesome FLW houses in your neighborhood.

Oak Park is a great choice for anyone who want a more urban, sophisticted place than your average suburb.

[Attrill]

I agree that Oak Park (and Evanston as well) are great choices. The OP should definitely investigate both.

The only problems that my wife and I found was that real estate costs in good school districts in both towns weren't much different than the NW side, and in many cases were more. They are a little further out for public transportation. Also, taxes are higher in both places, part of why they have better schools.

We also looked at Cicero, which had lower housing prices, but the schools weren't that great and there weren't as many amenities there.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Attrill

I agree that Oak Park (and Evanston as well) are great choices. The OP should definitely investigate both.

The only problems that my wife and I found was that real estate costs in good school districts in both towns weren't much different than the NW side, and in many cases were more. They are a little further out for public transportation. Also, taxes are higher in both places, part of why they have better schools.

We also looked at Cicero, which had lower housing prices, but the schools weren't that great and there weren't as many amenities there.

Oak Park is significantly closer to the Loop that most of the northwest side of Chicago. From the Harlem Ave el stop, its no more than 20 minutes to the Loop. The high cost of real estate and property taxes is a big factor, but its somewhat offset by the lack of need for private school tuition.

[Lookout Kid]

I'm finding that Oak Park can offer cost savings over other suburbs through reduced car ownership costs (many families get by with just one car instead of two or three). And it can offer cost savings over the city by negating the need for private school tuition. Neither of these necessarily offsets the increased real estate or property tax costs of Oak Park, but they help.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Oak Park is significantly closer to the Loop that most of the northwest side of Chicago. From the Harlem Ave el stop, its no more than 20 minutes to the Loop. The high cost of real estate and property taxes is a big factor, but its somewhat offset by the lack of need for private school tuition.

Agreed - I recommended the OP look into Oak Park. Most of Oak Park is roughly equivalent to being around the Montrose or Irving Park Blue line stop in the city.

For me living in the city worked best, the OP may feel differently and should check out Oak Park. I definitely feel that Oak Park and Evanston are worlds away from most suburbs. The combination of easy access to the city via the CTA and decent downtown areas in their own rights make them like living in a Chicago neighborhood (for lifestyle at least).

[Brahern02]

The only problem I see with Oak Park, Evanston and Park Ridge are cost. Yes they cost significantly more. However, there would be no tuition costs so it might just break even. I think Oak Park is a very nice town. However, I have been told to stay away from the far eastern edge. Yes I know its right next to Austin, but I have not heard about too many bad things happening in OP. And I agree with averyone that it feels more like a Chicago neighborhood than a Chicago suburb.