Sterling/rock falls (Chicago, Rockford, Peoria: crime rates, house, unemployment)

[M TYPE X]

Northern Illinois outside of Chicago is depressing. I refer specifically to the Kankakee and Rockford areas. I don't know about Peru/Ottawa firsthand.

Mid-state Illinois outside of Danville and Decatur is livable, and Wisconsin outside of Beloit/Janesville and the worst parts of Milwaukee is really nice. Between Peoria, Chicago, and Madison, it seems to be something of a Bermuda Triangle.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

Beloit/Janesville and the worst parts of Milwaukee is really nice.

To the OP: Northern IL is unique, there are some lovely small towns, rust-belt larger towns, charming quaint towns, etc. There is something for everyone here. Chicagoland is a monster, it offers everything you can imagine, but you end up paying out the wazoo for it. There are some smaller suburbs on the far western edges (ie Elburn, Wasco, etc) that are still "cheap" compared to the rest of DuPage and Kane suburbs, but those will soon be overly developed, so if you want to get into one of those suburbs, do it now.

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I was saying that once you get west of Naperville, I would steer the car north or south. The rest of northern Illinois does not impress, and thus I argue most people would be better served by either mid-state Illinois, or trekking north to Wisconsin.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I was saying that once you get west of Naperville, I would steer the car north or south. The rest of northern Illinois does not impress, and thus I argue most people would be better served by either mid-state Illinois, or trekking north to Wisconsin.

No, nevermind. Your sentence was strange, but I knew what you meant, you just worded it wrong and it sounded funny.

As for being west of Naperville, there are quite a few great towns, especially in the northern half. You have Ottawa, Galena, Cherry Valley, Elburn, Wasco, all the burbs along Randall (Geneva, St. Charles, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Sleepy Hollow, etc), Sycamore, DeKalb, SE Rockford, et, etc, etc.

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

No, nevermind. Your sentence was strange, but I knew what you meant, you just worded it wrong and it sounded funny.

As for being west of Naperville, there are quite a few great towns, especially in the northern half. You have Ottawa, Galena, Cherry Valley, Elburn, Wasco, all the burbs along Randall (Geneva, St. Charles, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Sleepy Hollow, etc), Sycamore, DeKalb, SE Rockford, et, etc, etc.

The only thing around here that is sounding funny is this praise for DeKalb ...

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

The only thing around here that is sounding funny is this praise for DeKalb ...

Noone is "praising" DeKalb.

DeKalb is not a bad town to live in. Would I want to live there? Not really. But Id rather live there than Rockford, Ill tell you that much. Besides, DeKalb is growing, has several nice new subdivisions, job growth, etc. It needs some improvement, but its hardly a bad place to live.

[dubuqueaskme]

Dixon, Sterling, and Rock Falls have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO. They are good towns though. Travel 45 mins. to Davenport, IA for good stores, unless Wal Mart is your thing, which Sterling, Dixon, and Rochelle have.

DRUG problems are HUGE, you'll run into them somewhere.

[GoHogsGo]

Sterling doesn't have the drug problems that it used to have. Like was said earlier, Dixon/Sterling have a drug task force.

Sterling is home of Wahl Clipper (Electric Hair Trimmers/clippers), SSM (the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill, which for all the naysayers is projected to make 6.5 Million this year in PROFIT.), and a number of Manufacturing positions. Sorry to say, there just isn't much for teens to do around there (which may also have led to the recent crimes around Mount Carroll where teens were committing crimes because they had "Nothing to do")

[wartburg03]

I have lived in Sterling my whole life (apart from college and some international traveling shortly after), and while I agree that there is not a whole lot to do in the immediate area, I have never been at a loss for entertainment. I go to movies a lot (for $7.00 rather than the $10 or more you have to pay in larger cities), and go to Rockford, the Quad Cities, or Chicago when I want a larger selection of shopping or cultural activities. Crime is low in most neighborhoods, and generally people are friendly and helpful. As for the assertion that schools here are not good, I have never felt that. I attended St. Mary's school in grade school and the public schools for junior high and high school. I feel I received a superior education, although now I know the schools are struggling with funding and have had to cut some extra programs due to residents resisting a tax increase. All in all, I believe that Sterling is a great city for someone that doesn't mind a slower pace of life. Hope to see you here!

[jo_bee]

Originally Posted by Jay W.

My family is relocating to the sterling/rock falls area.Just wondering what its like Im in high school.Hows the schools and what the area overall like.anyone know about it?

The area is very interesting. Sterling's getting a waterfront and shops like old navy, tj maxx, starbucks, etc.Rock Falls is pretty much jist like sterling but smaller. Both high schools have rich sports traditions and good academics.