New job - suggest a 'burb on Metra Northwestern line? (Chicago: apartment, rentals)

[Ecobuckeye]

I'm hoping for a final offer on a job near the Edison station on the Metra Chicago-Northwestern line. My wife and I would like to find an apartment, but we're not familiar with the NW 'burbs.

I lived in Downer's for 2 years, but we're in Ohio currently. We'll be making around 60k together.

So, Des Plaines? Mt. Prospect? Crystal Lake? We want to keep it cheap so we can save to buy a house.

Thanks.

/Evanston does sound nice, though...

[cigga24]

I just moved to MT. Prospect from Columbus and I actually like it alot here. The Metra is only 3-4 miles away and not a lot of traffic. Shopping is everywhere, Oakbrook, Schaumburg, Skokie are all about 15 min drives. Our rent is $735 for a 1bdrm (The Colony apts, they have a website), this was the best we could find for a nice place with a dishwasher and laundry & fitness. No houses here though unless your dropping 230K. By the way,...GO BUCKS!!!!! c/o 04 & 05

[IllinoisWoman]

Mt. Prospect is a good idea, and on the Metra NW line. Also Palatine and near Dee Road. Arlington Heights is pricey. Stay away from Evanston. See the posts on that topic elsewhere in this forum. It's crime-ridden and expensive.

[sliceopizza]

Edison Park is actually really nice if that's where you are working.

[ed99ohio]

Moved here from Westlake, OH four years ago. Actually rented an apartment across the street from the Edison Park Metra station for the first year. Very nice neighborhood. The farther west you go on the Metra UP Northwest line the cheaper the housing. Consider Barrington and points west. You'll still have a decent commute (by train) and save money at the same time. If you're a Buckeye fan there are several sports bars where fans gather to watch the games. Great way to feel at home. Check out http://www.ohiostatealumnichicago.org/gamewatch.htm (broken link). There's also a gamewatch in the far western suburbs, but it's not posted right now, because there will be a new location next year.

[szoc55]

Crystal Lake is at the far end of the northwest line, so it takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to go to Chicago. They biult a new Metra station and nw houses right behind the station. There is always constant biulding in Crystal Lake, Mostly single family houses and can be expensive. There is plenty of shopping but just chain stores and restraunts.

[gosox8]

go with edison park it is more convenient.

[thespins]

I agree with renting around Edison Park (or even Norwood Park) until you get acclimated to the area. It is convenient to Park Ridge, close to the Kennedy expressway and there are a lot of rentals in the area. Then you could look at suburbs on that trainline and determine which suits your needs.

Crystal Lake and Woodstock are very far out, imho, but they are growing and provide opportunity to get more land/house for the money. Depends on what you're looking for.

[Sorcha]

I grew up in Norwood Park, it's a nice area with a great park and good schools.

[Ecobuckeye]

I thought I'd check back in to let you all know my wife and I settled on a nice place in LaGrange Park. I've got a 20-minute drive up Mannheim to work (yes, in Edison Park) and she walks to the train for a 20-min ride to the loop. It's definately a nice suburb, a little tight-collared for my taste. It helps that we're close to our only friends and acquaintances, who live in Bolingbrook.

I've really gotten attached to the Edison Park area, however, and we may move up here yet. It's a little worrisome, coming from a town of 10,000, because I just gotta have a backyard. But, we'll see.

Thanks for the info, and I will be watching Buckeye football every weekend. I've got tickets to the NIU-OSU game and I'd really like to score the Northwestern game.