Moving to suburbs area of Chicago (Aurora, Naperville: cinema, school, college)

[bobsigny]

Hello, I recently accepted a job in Glendale Heights, IL and I am looking for a Good place to live- close to stores, cinema, and other things to do. I am a city person and FYI I am from Michicagn and dont know the area or know anyone.

The company will be moving in a couple months to St Charles IL and I am looking for a place that is within good distance of both that has a good community.

I am looking at Carol Stream, West Chicago, Wheaton, Naperville, and Aurora and open to others.

Please give me any help and insight on the area and any areas you recommed. I would be greatly appreaciate it.

Thanks!

[cubssoxfan]

This should be in Chicago Suburbs forum.
I would look at living in or near St. Charles. Has a nice small town downtown and all the shopping and amenities you seek. I don't see the need to drive from naperville or Aurora to St. Charles. IMO St. Charles is more appealing than West Chicago.
What Naperville has over St. Charles is size and all the +'s & -'s that go along with it.

[Drover]

Why not St. Charles itself? Between it and neighboring Geneva, there's pretty much everything you're looking for.

If they're moving the company to STC, will there still be a need to travel to Glendale Heights? Are going to have two offices? If they're just moving to STC, I wouldn't even consider places like West Chicago or Carol Stream. If you need to travel to both, then I still suggest STC; just make sure you're on the east side of the river. Crossing the river during "rush hour" can be a PITA.

[bobsigny]

Drover: The company will be moving within the next 3 months, so there will not be a need to travel to Glendale heights.

I would like to be in a bigger city.

[Drover]

Then I'd drop Carol Stream and West Chicago from consideration altogether. Carol Stream in particular is little more than a collection of subdivisions with no cohesive community focus. West Chicago at least has a small "old-school" downtown area but it's very very small and there's not much to recommend it. Geneva and St. Charles both have nice core downtown areas with nice shops and restaurants and boutiques and pubs and the like -- St. Charles particularly with the pub scene on Main Street and Geneva with the boutique district on 3rd Street. There's also the modern-day shopping corridor along Randall Road through both Geneva and STC, and beyond in both directions.

Wheaton is nice enough, but sleepy.

Naperville has a nice vibrant downtown but living anywhere near downtown is gonna cost you, and the outskirts are as bland as post-war suburbia gets. And the commute to STC can be tiresome,depending on which parts of Naperville and STC respectively you'll be commuting from/to. It's still a top contender on your list though.

Aurora is the closest thing you'll find to a genuine "urban" atmosphere this far out into the suburbs, but downtown Aurora still hasn't recovered from its "rust-belt downturn" days and the rest of Aurora is basically suburban in form -- and some parts of it aren't particularly safe. Downtown revitalization is an ongoing process but there isn't anything approximating an "urban" nightlife scene there yet; and there probably won't be any time soon.

[bobsigny]

Thanks for writting back so fast. Which of the cities has better traffic and cost of living? between Aurora area, Geneva and St Charles? Also I am in my mid-20's, single and this is my first real job out of college so Im not sure if that will help me determine a city to live in.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Drover

Then I'd drop Carol Stream and West Chicago from consideration altogether. Carol Stream in particular is little more than a collection of subdivisions with no cohesive community focus. West Chicago at least has a small "old-school" downtown area but it's very very small and there's not much to recommend it. Geneva and St. Charles both have nice core downtown areas with nice shops and restaurants and boutiques and pubs and the like -- St. Charles particularly with the pub scene on Main Street and Geneva with the boutique district on 3rd Street. There's also the modern-day shopping corridor along Randall Road through both Geneva and STC, and beyond in both directions.

Wheaton is nice enough, but sleepy.

Naperville has a nice vibrant downtown but living anywhere near downtown is gonna cost you, and the outskirts are as bland as post-war suburbia gets. And the commute to STC can be tiresome,depending on which parts of Naperville and STC respectively you'll be commuting from/to. It's still a top contender on your list though.

Aurora is the closest thing you'll find to a genuine "urban" atmosphere this far out into the suburbs, but downtown Aurora still hasn't recovered from its "rust-belt downturn" days and the rest of Aurora is basically suburban in form -- and some parts of it aren't particularly safe. Downtown revitalization is an ongoing process but there isn't anything approximating an "urban" nightlife scene there yet; and there probably won't be any time soon.

Great description, won't let me rep you. I do wonder about the OP's reading comprehension, though

[yogao]

Originally Posted by bobsigny

Hello, I recently accepted a job in Glendale Heights, IL and I am looking for a Good place to live- close to stores, cinema, and other things to do. I am a city person and FYI I am from Michicagn and dont know the area or know anyone.

The company will be moving in a couple months to St Charles IL and I am looking for a place that is within good distance of both that has a good community.

I am looking at Carol Stream, West Chicago, Wheaton, Naperville, and Aurora and open to others.

Please give me any help and insight on the area and any areas you recommed. I would be greatly appreaciate it.

Thanks!

I second living in Geneva or St Charles. There is decent night life in St Charles for someone your age plus you won't be too far away from work. If you wanted to go into the city, you can catch the train in Geneva.

[aga412]

I would look at Batavia as well. Great highway access (I-88) and close to both Geneva and St. Charles. A great community to live in!

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by aga412

I would look at Batavia as well. Great highway access (I-88) and close to both Geneva and St. Charles. A great community to live in!

Batavia is nice, but seems sleepier than Geneva and St. Charles as far as bars and restaurants.