Dekalb? Rochelle? (Rockford, Decatur, Danville: crime rate, homes, employment)

[SRedmon]

Any info about living in DeKalb or Rochelle?

[Steve-o]

Rochelle and DeKalb are mediocre at best. DeKalb is home to NIU and a notorious party town. Schools are ok as are Rochelle's, but Rochelle is kinda dumpy IMO. There is a new high school and new subdivisions springing up in a few spots, but thats about it. Most of the homes are old and affordable, so there are plenty of hispanics (some illegals) who snatch them up and cram 20 people to a house. DeKalb's east side (east of downtown) is the same way.

But if I had to choose between the two towns Id definitely pick DeKalb. There is LOTS more to do there than in Rochelle. Rt. 23 runs between Sycamore (an even better town) and DeKalb and is chock full of shopping (Borders, Target, Lowe's, a theatre, car dealers, restaurants--including Portillos, Barnes and Nobles, etc...) that you cant get in Rochelle. Rochelle is quieter though, if that amounts to anything for you. Good luck!

[SRedmon]

Thanks Steve-o! I appreciate the info!

[Steve-o]

No prob! I suggest looking at both before you consider. Take a gander at DeKalb's new housing subdivisions, some in Rochelle, and while at it you should definitely consider Sycamore as well. Sycamore is only 20 minutes from St. Charles which is a nice town with lots to do.

[Kalysa19]

Ha ha....I don't know if I could call DeKalb "notorious" for being a party school. I went to college there and let me tell ya, it was sub-par at best. But there are some good places to explore in the area and Sycamore does have a quaint downtown area.

[Lucas Streit]

Rochelle seems to have far more employment opputunities than DeKalb unless you want to work retail. Rochelle also built a brand new high school a few years ago so its dumpiest school (the high school) is gone. Rochelle High School in my experience was terriffic and a life saver. While the building was a heap (not anymore) there are some of the most magnificent teachers there. I was well prepared for college when I graduated it made college seem like a cakewalk.

I went to school at NIU and the party scene there was boring if not dead. Most of the college kids do seem to trash the downtown and area back by Greek Row.

[Steve-o]

Is the new high school on Flagg Road? I think I saw it the other day, looks nice!

As for employment, DeKalb offers FAR more than Rochelle, Id have to disagree with you there.

[M TYPE X]

DeKalb has a Barnes & Noble?! for real?! Now that's on the map ... we are not talking about Danville or Decatur here! /sarcasm

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

DeKalb has a Barnes & Noble?! for real?! Now that's on the map ... we are not talking about Danville or Decatur here! /sarcasm

LOL

Yeah, I was kinda surprised myself. LOL Its definitely NOT the same DeKalb as it used to be, especially along Rt. 23.

[Schmoo]

I went to NIU for my first 2 years, in the mid 90's. Back then it was a barren corn field. Now it's as built up as Rockford, stores everywhere. There is still nothing in Rochelle, however. There is absolutely NO way that Rochelle has more jobs than DeKalb.

I will agree that DeKalb has become a little seedy. There are a lot of lower income neighborhoods peppered with new construction subdivisions closer to NIU. I would not live there. In fact, I left NIU due to the soaring crime rate on campus. That being said, I would sooner live in DeKalb than Rochelle. Rochelle is a hole.

Check out Sycamore & Sugar Grove. St. Charles if you can afford it.