Working in Waukegan,IL Living in Kenosha, WI

[firsttimetraveller]

Originally Posted by goillini8

Also, Kenosha has Metra service to Waukegan and all the way to downtown Chicago!! I'm not sure you'd be within distance of the station when you get off in Waukegan, so I really wasn't suggesting it as a commuting option (of course it could be), but simply pointing out that if you choose Kenosha, you can get downtown Chicago (and other parts of the city) for events, shopping, cultural stuff, etc. and you have great options other than driving.

Are you at the Bur Wood Dr. facility in Waukegan or the Sheridan Road facility in North Chicago (right next to Waukegan) or somewhere else?

Bur Wood Dr.!

[goillini8]

Originally Posted by firsttimetraveller

Bur Wood Dr.!

Yeah, it's 5-5.5 miles from the Waukegan Metra station to Abbott on Bur Wood Drive, so probably not a great commuting option unless they have a shuttle.

But, again, I just brought up Metra to underscore the fact that living in Kenosha area, you would have train service, if you need it, straight to downtown Chicago (and obviously all the stops on the way).

Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie seem like seem like great choice for where you're working.

[reppin_the_847]

Originally Posted by goillini8

Yeah, it's 5-5.5 miles from the Waukegan Metra station to Abbott on Bur Wood Drive, so probably not a great commuting option unless they have a shuttle.

But, again, I just brought up Metra to underscore the fact that living in Kenosha area, you would have train service, if you need it, straight to downtown Chicago (and obviously all the stops on the way).

Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie seem like seem like great choice for where you're working.

It is nice that Kenosha has METRA, but keep in mind that the Metra runs on that line that go all the way to Kenosha are far less in frequency than the ones that terminate in Waukegan (coming from Chicago & vice versa). It is also a pretty lengthy trip with numerous stops along the way. Sturtevant, WI (just west of Racine, WI) also has Amtrak service to Chicago (far speedier, but more expensive).

[Seabeacon]

My dad commuted from Kenosha to Waukegan when we lived there. I guess it was due to taxes.

[reppin_the_847]

Originally Posted by Seabeacon

My dad commuted from Kenosha to Waukegan when we lived there. I guess it was due to taxes.

Within the scheme of Chicagoland commutes in the outskirts it's actually a very reasonable one. Downtown Kenosha (WI) to downtown Waukegan (IL) is only about 16 miles via local roads & the traffic is not brutal like you get going from the city of Chicago up to the northern suburbs.

[MSchemist80]

If I was working in northern Lake Co I would also opt for living in Wisconsin due to Illinois inability to not tax people out of their homes and run a solvent govt.

[genesiss23]

Wisconsin actually has high property tax. It has the fifth highest average property tax amount of any state. The average tax rate for Kenosha county is 2.3%.
Sales tax in Wisconsin is lower. Income tax is more complicated because Wisconsin has a progressive tax vs Illinois's flat tax. Overall, Wisconsin is in better shape financially than Illinois.

Traffic between Waukegan and Kenosha is not that bad. I-94 is still under construction for the tenth year it seems like. If you need to fly, you have a choice between MKE and ORD.
There has been quite a bit a development in Pleasant Prairie/Kenosha. The Amazon warehouse has brought other companies to the area.

[MSchemist80]

Originally Posted by genesiss23

Wisconsin actually has high property tax. It has the fifth highest average property tax amount of any state. The average tax rate for Kenosha county is 2.3%.
Sales tax in Wisconsin is lower. Income tax is more complicated because Wisconsin has a progressive tax vs Illinois's flat tax. Overall, Wisconsin is in better shape financially than Illinois.

Traffic between Waukegan and Kenosha is not that bad. I-94 is still under construction for the tenth year it seems like. If you need to fly, you have a choice between MKE and ORD.
There has been quite a bit a development in Pleasant Prairie/Kenosha. The Amazon warehouse has brought other companies to the area.

2.3% is lower than most of Illinois counties especially Lake and McHenry.

Compare your property tax rate (database) - Chicago Tribune

[SonySegaTendo617]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

It is nice that Kenosha has METRA, but keep in mind that the Metra runs on that line that go all the way to Kenosha are far less in frequency than the ones that terminate in Waukegan (coming from Chicago & vice versa). It is also a pretty lengthy trip with numerous stops along the way. Sturtevant, WI (just west of Racine, WI) also has Amtrak service to Chicago (far speedier, but more expensive).

Not to forget if you take Amtrak, MUCH fewer stops vs. Metra. The only stops on Amtrak Hiawatha trains between downtown Milwaukee and downtown Chicago are Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, Sturtevant, and Glenview. You'd be out of luck for taking that train, if you wanted a stop anywhere near Waukegan/North Chicago for Abbott.

I love the idea of living in Kenosha, and seeing if Abbott offered a shuttle from the Metra train to the facility you'll work at. Like repping_the_847 said, DO STUDY the schedule before you take Metra. And become aware of those few train times on the Union Pacific-North line, that go past Waukegan and serve the stops north of there to Kenosha. I will WARN that on weekends(and most especially Sundays/holidays), that's where you'll see the fewest trains going all the way north to/from Kenosha.

Anyway, here's a pdf link to the Metra schedule for this line, in case the OP wants to look it over: https://metrarail.com/sites/default/...tt_proof_1.pdf

And just for good measure, the Amtrak Hiawatha schedule(Chicago-Milwaukee, and vice versa):
https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/192/381...ule-101516.pdf