Plano, IL -- interviewing there 9/12 (Chicago, Aurora: section 8, real estate, for rent)

[CA2IL]

Hello everyone,
I'm interviewing for a job in Plano, IL next week (9/12/07), coming from just north of San Francisco, back to the auld sod...and maybe getting a new job.

Anybody have any thoughts on the economics of the area around Kendall County, west of Aurora, IL? I know, I know, it's corn and beans west of Plano and that's not a bad thing, at least for now.

Can anyone live on $30-40 thousand a year by themselves in Plano?

I haven't lived in Illinois for about 24 years, and the lenses are rosy...too rosy? Don't know yet.

I'd appreciate some thoughts on a possible move there. Thanks!

[Drover]

Plano may be in the cornfields now, but it won't be for long. If you haven't been in the area for a while, you're in for an eye-opener. Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego and Sugar Grove are now all interconnected by suburban growth. Bristol is in its path, and I doubt it has more than 10 years left before it too is a full-fledged suburb. In fact, Bristol is getting the squeeze from two sides since Yorkville is going bananas; its population now stands at about 13,000 whereas it was about 3,500 when you left. People in Big Rock are worried that they are about to be swallowed up. Suburbia continues to sweep westward nearly unabated. Even Plano itself has gone from 5,000 when you left to an estimated 9,500 today, and the vast majority of that growth has occurred within the last 5 years as new developments roll into town.

Right now the going rate for a 3-bedroom fixer-upper in Plano is about $125,000. For an updated 2-bedroom, expect to pay about $150,000. Buy in while you can -- prices will only go up in the long term as the real estate price-pressure wave continues to move westward.

[CA2IL]

Thank you, Drover. I'll be renting for a while, not having a home here to sell, nor much funds in any case. That is, I will be renting if offered the job and if I accept it. I have been told via a phone interview that rents are higher east of Plano than west of it, that Plano is growing, etc. For economic bang, that's good news. Would you happen to know anything about the character of the area? Anything to compare it to? I deeply appreciate your taking the time to reply. This situation is a real change of life, should it play out that way.

[Drover]

I really don't have any California equivalent for a basis of comparison... Plano still has a small-town rural feel to it, but that's disappearing rapidly. The next town to the west is Sandwich, and it probably won't be in suburbia's sights for 20 or so years. Sandwich would probably be cheaper than Plano, and it would only be about a 5-mile commute.

[CA2IL]

Truly an appealing return address, Sandwich, IL. Thanks for the tip on costs.
You're very helpful, I appreciate it.

[Scribbler]

Those areas will DEFINITELY have a feel to them that's decidedly more suburban than small town within the next two decades, so enjoy the "country" now.

[xxJoyfulxx]

I grew up in Yorkville and Newark and have a lot of childhood friends from Plano and Sandwich. The whole are (especially Yorkville, my gosh!) is TOTALLY different from when I lived there in the 80's and early 90's. It has built up a ton and hopefully the expansion has changed some of the less-than-desireable things about Plano.
Between all the surrounding towns, Plano was always the least desirable place to live in that area. Very low economically, lots of run down neighborhoods, many Latina gangs spilling over from Aurora and lots of Section 8 housing. Back in the 90's you were hard pressed to find decent housing (especially for rental!) in Plano. In about 96 - 97 they built some new townhome areas just east of Plano on 34, between there and Yorkville and they were really nice.

That is just my little snapshot of how things use to be in Plano. I haven't been through there in about 2-3 years and I'm not sure how far things have developed, though I know they have to be better than they were.
But to answer your question, yes you can live fine on 30-40K in that area - th e only area you won't be able to afford would be some areas of Aurora and going north into Batavia, Geneva, etc.
If you are looking for a developed, nice area, I would live in Yorkville or Oswego. They have pretty much split their seams in growth and they are about out of room to get any more developed.
If you would like to stay more outside of the growth areas, quieter, slower lifestyle, then Sandwich or even Newark would be a really good choice too.

Either way, that's quite a change from San Fran! Good luck with everything and if you need any advice about that area, I'm always willing to help.

[CA2IL]

Thanks, that's a good snapshot, it helps me build a picture of how the towns compare.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but don't want to live in a dump. A farmhouse with broadband is top of the wish list, but broadband is a must. So that's the determining factor, if there is one! As far as areas, I'll check out Sandwich first. I think living in a town called Sandwich would be cool. Who could forget where you live?

I want to thank each of you posters for such real-life comments about the area, what you each think and have said. You've really helped.

Just to try to establish some frame of reference for distances, it seems all the towns mentioned are within six miles or less of each other. So trips to the store in another town, that's no biggie. Chicago would be 60-90 minutes in decent traffic. Downstate to Galesburg would be about 2 and a half hours. EZ drives to see family.

Wouldn't mind seeing cornfields out the window, so I'll check Sandwich first.

Thanks, everyone.

[xxJoyfulxx]

You think the name Sandwich is funny, wait until you tell people how to get there. On rte 34, you go past Plano to Sandwich.
Get it. Plain-O Sandwich.

I went to church in Sandwich and it is a nice town. And of course you'll be right in the center of THE most important event in the area - the Sandwich Fair! You will be quite amazed - it's an enormous fair that is treated like a holiday in the towns surrounding it. We got out of school while the fair was going on (and that was in Newark!) - the fair is a huge deal for Sandwich, not to mention SO much fun. It's in September every year, in fact, yesterday was the last day of it.
Good stuff!

[CA2IL]

OH, I know! The possibilities with Sandwich are endless. All else aside, that one factor would be fun.

One thing I'm picking up on, the area seems to be known as the Fox River Valley, similar to where I live, often referred to as Wine Country, or just Sonoma County.

I like the idea of having a fair being so important. It's integral to that sense of community. Reminds of growing up downstate in Bushnell, where the Fall Festival was big, and the homecoming parade. Hey, the carnival is in town!