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Old 04-25-2011, 02:17 PM
 
36 posts, read 83,436 times
Reputation: 16

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Hello,

My husband and I are moving back to Chicago (yes!) and we are looking to rent one of two places. I will describe the places briefly, but just can't decide which area is better for us overall. Any comments about the areas extremely appreciated. Some information about us:

late-twenties, have a 1.5 year old daughter with our second due in October, family-oriented, like daily coffees, not into partying, love taking walks, Jewish

The first is in Evanston proper, it is about $2,700, a lovely SFH dutch colonial with charm, 3 bedrooms 1.5 bathrooms, 1875 square feet, beautiful front yard, minimal back yard, attached 1 car garage, walking distance to the lake, farmers market, and lots of other wonderful things (blind faith cafe, starbucks), kids will share a room with the additional being a guest room (this doesn't bother us at all) My husband could take the Evanston Express to work in about 40 minutes so that is another good thing. The home is on Amsbury Evanston, IL.

The second is in Morton Grove (near where we previously rented actually), it is $2,400, a pretty huge 2,900 square foot 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home with tons and tons of space, 2 car garage, lovely back yard, walking distance to a coffee shop, but mostly a driving kind of town, we would get an additional car (not a problem at all) so my husband can drive to work, the kitchen is about 16 x 16 with top of the line everything, stunning living and dining room with lots and lots of space, kids won't share a room. The home is on Arcadia Morton Grove, IL.

I realize that the median ages of these two towns are quite different, Evanston being in the early twenties and Morton Grove being in the mid-forties.

Any comments about these two areas much appreciated. Is Morton Grove super bedroomy with nothing going on and no restaurants? I don't mind the targets and the starbucks, but I also like family-oriented areas.

Thank you all so so much.
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Old 04-25-2011, 02:50 PM
 
14,684 posts, read 16,484,042 times
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Both are nice towns. Morton Grove is much quieter. I would pick Evanston in your situation.
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Old 04-25-2011, 03:33 PM
 
Location: Berwyn, IL
2,418 posts, read 5,992,724 times
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I'm partial to Evanston, though I work out of Morton Grove a couple of days a week. My particular taste is for pre-war architecture and higher density. It may not be the same for you.
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Old 04-25-2011, 05:04 PM
 
28,460 posts, read 81,417,268 times
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I prefer Evanston over Morton Grove but I am curious as to why / how you would think a town of over 77,000 souls in Illinois would have a median age in the early 20's ...

NU's undergrad population is the smallest of any Big Ten school, its graduate students in Law & Medicine live largely near the Chicago campus.
//www.city-data.com/city/Morton...-Illinois.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Evanston-Illinois.html
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Old 04-25-2011, 05:27 PM
 
17,170 posts, read 21,538,741 times
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Do you mean Asbury Ave? That's a nice area. Btw, there are lots of families in Evanston and lots of seniors as well. The average age is 33 even with all the students.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Last edited by Yac; 05-23-2012 at 07:40 AM..
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Old 04-25-2011, 05:29 PM
 
Location: Lake Arlington Heights, IL
5,479 posts, read 11,672,466 times
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What schools are you districted for in Morton Grove? If you are close to Oriole Park, that's a nice medium sized park with a pool.
Did you mean Asbury Av. in Evanston? That is a robust walk to the beach especially with a 1 1/2 year old and newborn! I don't think I would call Asbury Av. walkable to the beach. Asbury is also kind of a busy street.
I like Morton Grove for the large home and yard, I like Evanston for the walkability, beach and extra charm.
As a note, your husband can take Metra from Morton Grove into downtown Chicago or drive to Skokie and take CTA via the Yellow line.
EDIT NOTE: Looked at Evanston map for a refresher, since it's been a while since I lived there or visited often. From Dempster and Asbury it looks like a 1 1/2 mile walk to the lake. I must have been thinking of how long a walk it was from Custer & Oakton as a very long child. So it is more walkable than I remember and closer from Asbury and Dempster than I thought

Last edited by cubssoxfan; 04-25-2011 at 05:36 PM.. Reason: Distances seem far longer at 6 than at 46!
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Old 04-25-2011, 06:14 PM
 
36 posts, read 83,436 times
Reputation: 16
I meant 32 guys! And I got that number from this site.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
I prefer Evanston over Morton Grove but I am curious as to why / how you would think a town of over 77,000 souls in Illinois would have a median age in the early 20's ...

NU's undergrad population is the smallest of any Big Ten school, its graduate students in Law & Medicine live largely near the Chicago campus.
//www.city-data.com/city/Morton...-Illinois.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Evanston-Illinois.html
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Old 04-25-2011, 06:16 PM
 
36 posts, read 83,436 times
Reputation: 16
Yes. Asbury. Thank you!


Quote:
Originally Posted by nana053 View Post
Do you mean Asbury Ave? That's a nice area. Btw, there are lots of families in Evanston and lots of seniors as well. The average age is 33 even with all the students.

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Last edited by Yac; 05-23-2012 at 07:39 AM..
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Old 04-25-2011, 06:19 PM
 
36 posts, read 83,436 times
Reputation: 16
1.5 miles is nothing to us. We walk five every day. Also we are generally more city folk. Who wouldn't walk 1.5 miles? That's crazy talk! We walk to get coffee and groceries....

Quote:
Originally Posted by cubssoxfan View Post
What schools are you districted for in Morton Grove? If you are close to Oriole Park, that's a nice medium sized park with a pool.
Did you mean Asbury Av. in Evanston? That is a robust walk to the beach especially with a 1 1/2 year old and newborn! I don't think I would call Asbury Av. walkable to the beach. Asbury is also kind of a busy street.
I like Morton Grove for the large home and yard, I like Evanston for the walkability, beach and extra charm.
As a note, your husband can take Metra from Morton Grove into downtown Chicago or drive to Skokie and take CTA via the Yellow line.
EDIT NOTE: Looked at Evanston map for a refresher, since it's been a while since I lived there or visited often. From Dempster and Asbury it looks like a 1 1/2 mile walk to the lake. I must have been thinking of how long a walk it was from Custer & Oakton as a very long child. So it is more walkable than I remember and closer from Asbury and Dempster than I thought
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Old 04-25-2011, 06:29 PM
 
130 posts, read 266,303 times
Reputation: 120
I am partial to Evanston as I grew up there, but I still think is the best of all worlds. They don't call it Heavanston for nothing! Morton Grove is a nice community, but it is quieter and more traditionally suburban. You would have to drive more in Morton Grove. In Evanston more things are right there, except for some bigger box stores that you would have to for sure drive to, like Target or Best Buy etc. Even those are generally just a short drive. Evanston has the beach, shops, movies,trains to city, great restaurants etc. Also, it is nice having the University right there. It does have a more urban feel to it than Morton Grove and most of the other northern suburbs. I have always chosen location over house size, but that is just me. Good luck and enjoy!
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