Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie??? (Milwaukee, Salem, Vernon: transplants, real estate, houses)

[Spartanacus]

Hello. My wife is contemplating a job offer in Lake Forest, IL. We certainly can't afford that and didn't really fall in love with what we could afford in other parts of Lake County. So instead of her turning down the job, I decided I'd forget about looking for a job in downtown Chicago and instead concentrate my job search for either Lake County, IL or Milwaukee...meaning we're interested in living somewhere in between...either Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie or Winthrop Harbor, IL.

Can anyone tell me what they think about the WI towns I mentioned?

Thanks!

[Chelito23]

Wintrhop Harbour is a white trash kind of town. Pleasant Prairie is pretty rural compared to Lake County. Kenosha is a small old industrial town that is affordable compared to Lake county as well. Gurnee in Illinois is a nice community with great shopping and entertainment and centrally located between Milwaukee and Chicago.

[Spartanacus]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

Wintrhop Harbour is a white trash kind of town. Pleasant Prairie is pretty rural compared to Lake County. Kenosha is a small old industrial town that is affordable compared to Lake county as well. Gurnee in Illinois is a nice community with great shopping and entertainment and centrally located between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Thanks. Have you ever heard of Salem, WI (West of Pleasant Prairie and Kenosha)? I found a house I like up there.

[wolf942]

Hello I moved to Kenosha 8 years ago. The houses are a good price the schools are a bit crowded but are good schools if you are in the right area.I am from Chicago and I find the people not as friendly .There are some very nice people here but not as outgoing. They tend to keep to themselves.People are frugal (cheap).They dont like all the new arrivals but will take your money .Go home but leave your money.I have been here 8 years but feal Iam only visiting, The town is a great place nice walks along lakefront,Lake Geneva a half hour away and plenty of great Illinios people who have moved here.Northen illinios is too crowded and over priced. Kenosha is asleep after 10.00 oclock on weekends.Salem is too far from shopping kids sports and you will find yourself driving alot into Kenosha,There are some great old nieghborhoods in Kenosha look close before you choose.Ed

[nanannie]

i agree with the posters here. I would choose Gurnee over the towns you mentioned.Is Lake Geneva a posibility?Too Far? Thats a great town.Vernon Hills? Thats not far from LF.

[Betsylou]

We've just recently moved to Pleasant Prairie from a "North Shore" area of Lake County. I work in Lake County as a real estate appraiser, my husband works in Milwaukee. We moved to reduce his commute time. As a life-long Illinoisian, I was not thrilled with the prospect of moving to Wisconsin, however I have been very happy with the change. I do not miss the ridiculous congestion all over Lake County, which should be renamed "Gridlock County" and the real estate taxes, which have gone out of sight. Everything we need here is within a short drive and the Interstate is one mile away. Because we have the power plant and multiple business parks, the taxes are not too bad for Wisconsin. I have found the people to be welcoming and friendly, most of the folks in my subdivision are transplants from Illinois. We spent a lot of time in downtown Milwaukee going to concerts and the theather...which is far less expensive for the same shows you see in Chicago. As for the posted comments regarding Winthrop Harbor; I do a lot of work there. I would not call it "White Trash" that's a little harsh, however it could be called a more working class area. There are some beautiful areas along the lake and if you don't need to be concerned about school districts, it's a great value.

[theradrecycler]

Age is a big factor if your thinking of coming to Kenosha. The older you are, the better it will be. And actually, I suppose the very oldest and very youngest Kenoshans are the probably the happiest.

Teen to about 35 yrs is a different story.

Suicide is a huge problem here. And unless you're considering joining a bowling league or enjoy drinking in bars, you won't find much to do. I see more "Git R Done" bumper stickers than I'd like, but hey.

It's not all bad here. The small span of the downtown area and piers is beautiful. The coffee shops are great (there are many) and the people are nice. Looking at the old buildings never gets boring. There is a Metra train station right downtown; an hour and a half train ride will put you in downtown Chicago.

Kenosha is a different place in the summertime -- with lots of festivals and outdoor markets. People here are also different in the summer -- just energized and happy.

I'd suggest spending the summer months here and leaving before winter.

[goodiesgirls3]

I read some of the other responses to your question. I had lived in Lake County Illinois for 43 years. Nice enough there but the taxes and the traffic made us crazy so, 3 yrs ago my husband and I moved to central wi.

My daughter went to college in Kenosha (Carthage), we spent alot of time there. There is lots of things to do in the area. Like any other big city there are certain neighborhoods that are not as nice as others. Your realtor should be able to help you.

I am not sure what the comment from the one poster about Winthrop Harbor has to do with anything.

I personally would probably chose Pleasant Prairie. No special reason just nice rural area.

Hope this helps

[mike_a53158]

Hi,

I also am in a job search and live in Pleasant Prairie. I moved here 1n 1992 and find it is the overall best place of the other mentioned communities. I checke them all for not only price and style, but what is available.

I have a house with in walking distance of the two hospitals as well as Woodmans being about a mile west. So access to freeway is a snap. The Dog Track is about 1 mile north and as you know I hope the big controversy. I find it very good for activities such as bike rides, movies, parks, shopping and lake is about 5 miles away.

As I am finding work difficult would like to ask you if you may be interested in buying my house? 3br, 2 full ceramic baths, custom contempory ranch with basement. Steel siding on upgraded 2x6 wood frame. New roof not yet a month old and new water heater couple weeks old. Sits on corner lot about 150x140 and in excellent condition with nice pins trees as wind break.

[scottyr]

Originally Posted by theradrecycler

Age is a big factor if your thinking of coming to Kenosha. The older you are, the better it will be. And actually, I suppose the very oldest and very youngest Kenoshans are the probably the happiest.

Teen to about 35 yrs is a different story.

Suicide is a huge problem here. And unless you're considering joining a bowling league or enjoy drinking in bars, you won't find much to do. I see more "Git R Done" bumper stickers than I'd like, but hey.

It's not all bad here. The small span of the downtown area and piers is beautiful. The coffee shops are great (there are many) and the people are nice. Looking at the old buildings never gets boring. There is a Metra train station right downtown; an hour and a half train ride will put you in downtown Chicago.

Kenosha is a different place in the summertime -- with lots of festivals and outdoor markets. People here are also different in the summer -- just energized and happy.

I'd suggest spending the summer months here and leaving before winter.

just wondering, what kind of facilities constitute "a good time" for teen to 35 year olds? in a full-service city that is around 100,000 people and is close to cities which contain major malls and theme parks, why are younger people so bored? i could undertstand youthful angst in casper, wyoming, but kenosha???? say it ain't so?

it seems to me that whereever a teen lives, be it rexburg idaho or manhatten, ny, they will moan about "being bored"