Moving to Chicago with Family (Naperville, Schaumburg, Evanston etc)?

[almost3am]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

And what is the difference on days one needs to or chooses to drive?!?! 20-30 minutes in my estimation.

Probably a lot, but i haven't driven to work in the 2.5 years I have been here.

[ToriaT]

Elmhurst is nice and has nice homes but I prefer Naperville. But I like the portions of Naperville that are not so far out. Naperville is huge. But, either town is nice. I suggest you explore them. Naperville has a good train the Burlington, but tough to get parking spots. Elmhurst is on the Union Pacific line that IMHO is not as good as the Burlington but its okay. I would nix Schaumburg, as there is no real town like atmosphere their. Both Elmhurst and Naperville have town centers with shops, etc. Naperville also has a huge number of shopping areas.

[Vasily]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

And what is the difference on days one needs to or chooses to drive?!?! 20-30 minutes in my estimation.

The only time I really *had* to drive downtown is when I interviewed for my present job. That's once in about two and a half years of commuting downtown. If you *need* to drive once every year or two, 20-30 minutes difference is no big deal.

If someone chooses to drive from Naperville when there are better options, it's not for a want of Metra trains. Also, there's the cost of parking downtown and the time involved getting to your parking place (finding one, if you don't rent there). To be frank, the only person I've known who chose to drive every day from southern Naperville was not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Vasily

The only time I really *had* to drive downtown is when I interviewed for my present job. That's once in about two and a half years of commuting downtown. If you *need* to drive once every year or two, 20-30 minutes difference is no big deal.

If someone chooses to drive from Naperville when there are better options, it's not for a want of Metra trains. Also, there's the cost of parking downtown and the time involved getting to your parking place (finding one, if you don't rent there). To be frank, the only person I've known who chose to drive every day from southern Naperville was not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.

Understood. But there are people who will drive a couple days a week because of commitments after work, or because they are working late and the once an hour train schedule doesn't work. I am not advocating driving and I actually like Naperville-I just don't think it's the end all/be all suburb some think it is. And if someone wants the flexibility of driving, pointing out that it is more than an extra 5 minutes is meant to provide perspective and be informational-that's all.

[Vasily]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Understood. But there are people who will drive a couple days a week because of commitments after work, or because they are working late and the once an hour train schedule doesn't work.

True, but the OP's criteria were cost of purchasing, schools, and safety, with easy commute at the end of the list ... and the OP's question was specifically about the train time to/from Naperville.