Decided on Naperville but all the negative comments...... (Chicago, Elgin: transplants, home)

[chicagoRE]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. It is kind of bizarre how so many people have such strong opinions on this area, I just don't understand it. But I am not scared off in the least at this point. In fact I am feeling much better better about our decision

[Vasily]

Regarding the homeless person in Naperville being "persecuted", it's a more complex situation than the casual mention in this thread would suggest. He has his detractors ... but he also has his supporters in Naperville. He has also gone out of his way to make himself visible as a "protester" (though of what, isn't clear). Again, many in these forums seem to like to paint things in broad brush black-and-white terms. And ChicagoRE, if you move here, welcome to the community.

Naperville denizen draws attention:Good,bad,legal - Chicago Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/44nkqb2 - broken link)

[xfactor500]

Moving to Naperville also from the Big Apple. The area is great and we looked at the usual suspects for relo's Wheaton, Glen Ellyn hinsdale oak brook etc etc.

The pecking order conversations come up about Naperville and Dupage county just like NY and the keeping up with the Jones comments. These comments should not affect your decision to move to an area. I have lived in upscale area's in NY and solid middle class area's and some rough area's also. what's funny is these comments come-up in all areas regardless of the economics of the town.

What I found is you will meet a group of individuals in these areas that will be friends and you will meet others that are ok but the friendship part will never happen.

Just chill do what you do and a social comfort zone can be found anywhere. You will also find that most negative comments are posted by individuals who do not live in the town. In any event congrats on the move you choose a great area and do not worry about the small stuff and its all small stuff

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Vasily

What does median income for a community of 150,000 have to do with the snobbishness of the people in a particular subdivision, Winding Creek? You do understand that "median" means half the people in Naperville make less than $117K per year ... that's 75,000 people?

Thanks

[tbreiss]

I've lived here for twelve years. The keeping up with the jonses thing is blown way out of proportion. We love it here.

We drive our cars into the ground. We have a nice 3Br/2.5Ba house in North Naperville. Our kids have lots of friends in our subdivision. They wear nice hand-me-down clothes.

There are plenty of down-to-earth folks here.

We are actually moving to NJ due to a job change, and it's killing me to leave here.

[Vasily]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Thanks

I responded back with sarcasm, but have decided to delete that comment in favor of this one. I'm done with interacting with the kind of negativity I see in this forum and others ... that's not what the OP wanted. You win, Vlajos.

[Vasily]

Originally Posted by tbreiss

I've lived here for twelve years. The keeping up with the jonses thing is blown way out of proportion. We love it here.

I've lived here for 23 years and 4 months, and agree 100%. I'm hoping to move back to NC in a few years, but only because I'm finding the winters too hard to take as I age, and because Naperville has gotten a bit too big for my taste (parking downtown has become a real hassle over the years).

[Saviano]

Hi everyone,

I've read more of the comments here about Naperville, but I am curious which one do you find more comparable to a European style of town - I am speaking mostly about walkability and not have to use your car everywhere.
Please rate, will appreciate it.

Naperville
Aurora
Elgin
Any other you'd like

Thanks

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Saviano

Hi everyone,

I've read more of the comments here about Naperville, but I am curious which one do you find more comparable to a European style of town - I am speaking mostly about walkability and not have to use your car everywhere.
Please rate, will appreciate it.

Naperville
Aurora
Elgin
Any other you'd like

Thanks

You mean with a vibrant city center shopping area that is pedestrian friendly and possibly closed off to cars? With widespread and convenient public transit?
What are you specifically looking for? I was in LeMans France and other smaller French cities and you can find some of the European style-but difficult to find it all.
I would say Evanston. Naperville & Arlington Heights would also be on the list but only if you live close to the city center.

[Saviano]

You mean with a vibrant city center shopping area that is pedestrian friendly and possibly closed off to cars? With widespread and convenient public transit?
What are you specifically looking for? I was in LeMans France and other smaller French cities and you can find some of the European style-but difficult to find it all.
I would say Evanston. Naperville & Arlington Heights would also be on the list but only if you live close to the city center.[/quote]

I mean go out to the local grocery store, walk couple a blocks away, sit down in the local coffee shop for a drink and not have to drive my car for a can of peas like today . Seriously I mean all of the things that you've mentioned above + you can walk let's say for an hour around and it's still pedestrian friendly. I know you can not compare apples and pears but still there are some similarities. And oh anyone to post a comment about Aurora center, is it really that bad with the crime and so on. Thanks a lot.