Chicago Suburbs Apartment near Naperville (Bolingbrook, Downers Grove: new home, neighborhood, college) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

mayim25 · 03-22-2012, 06:35 PM

I'm moving to Chicago in 2 months for work which office is located in Naperville. I'm looking for one bedroom apartment between Naperville and Chicago downtown, the area about 10-15 miles east from Naperville which is maximum 30 minutes commute by car. Which area would be a good place to live for a female? Ideal place would be closed to freeway and walking distance to train station.
Also, how is traffic on weekday? I assume driving to west wouldn't be bad.
Your local information would be greatly appreciated!!!

TheWayISeeThings · 03-22-2012, 09:22 PM

Naperville is 40 miles from the city. During rush hour each mile driven can ad exponentially to your commute time. From a driving perspective, its better to live closer to Naperville and perhaps live near a Metra station, so that you can hop on a train into the city when needed. However, if you think you might change jobs in the future and work downtown, then look closer to the Brookfield area.

What type of neighborhood do you like? The closer you get to the city the more urban the landscape becomes. So if you like suburbs and don't like urban areas, stay near or west of Downers Grove. If you like urban areas, live east of Downers Grove, east of 294 if possible.

Traffic. The 294/290/88 interchange area (the Hillside Strangler) can get backed up. If you live west of 294, you can avoid most of that. Easy access to i88 west will probably be your best bet. Other options include Ogden Avenue or 355 north. Though 355 north can get backed up south of 88. The main southbound roads leading out of Naperville (Route 53, Route 59, Yackley, Naper Blvd) all can get clogged in the afternoon. If you stay west of Brookfield, along i88 or just north of Naperville, you should be in good shape commute wise.

Personally, I'd look at Brookfield, Downers Grove, Lisle, Elmhurst, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, LaGrange, Hinsdale, Oakbrook. Not along a train route but in your range are: Woodridge, Darien, Willowbrook, Countryside and Bolingbrook. If you say a little about what types of areas you like to live in, I can provide some more insight into which burbs you might like best. (i.e. do you like a park like setting, urban, hip burb, walking community, the country?)

mayim25 · 03-23-2012, 10:59 AM

Thank you for detailed information!

As for the area preference, I don't need to live in the city, but want to have easy transportation to the city. I prefer walking distance community. Park area if possible. Not favorite of hip burb as living area.
As you said, the area near a Metra station would be good for me. I've been looking the areas around Metra BNSF line. Is the Metra convenient to go to downtown?

I'm currently living in Los Angeles and as you can imagine, traffic is always a big headache here. Therefore, I want to avoid the area with bad traffic to commute.

Would you narrow down recommended area based on above preference?

Thank you!

linicx · 03-23-2012, 01:20 PM

In the end it might be easier to live in Naperville and go to the city when you like. It is a very complete community. In the Chicago area you will find Costco, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Ikea and most of your favorite stores. Ralph's, for instance, is a store in the Kroger store chain.

LA traffic is not very pretty, but neither is Chicago. You have I-5s all over the city. The good news is it is laid out much differently with better access and exit points.

Welcome to your new home!

TheWayISeeThings · 03-23-2012, 01:51 PM

If you lived in Los Angeles, Chicago may seem like a drive in the country...or it may feel like you took a wrong turn and accidentally wound-up on the Indy 500 speedway if you are used to heavy gridlock. Traffic on i88 between Oakbrook and Naperville averages between 70-80mph most of the time, with pockets of stop and go at times.

The Chicago "Burbs" typically have a small downtown area with some shopping and restaurants which are within walking distance of the train station. If you live within walking distance to the train, you'll have plenty of options. You will need to drive to get groceries.

I would say look at Downers Grove, Lisle and Naperville itself. I am not as familiar with Hinsdale or Westmont, but Hinsdale has a pretty downtown area. All of these towns are fairly affluent with Hinsdale probably taking the top slot with regard to properly prices, followed by Naperville and then Downers Grove. Naperville is a very quaint college town with plenty of pubs, boutiques, shopping, and a pretty RiverWalk. Naperville has a number of annual festivals and the best shopping of all the burbs I've mentioned. Downers Grove has a fairly good sized downtown area as well with some festivals. Lisle has a smallish downtown area, but is pretty.

The Metra is extremely convenient to downtown. Use this link to check travel times to and from the various stops: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Schedule
Downers Grove --> Chicago takes 55 minutes on weekends
Naperville --> Chicago takes 1 hour 7 minutes on weekends

If you want someone to show you around the area, feel free to PM me. I am a female as well, btw--just to eliminate any creepiness.

mayim25 · 03-23-2012, 01:57 PM

Thank you, I'm excited to move there. Living in Naperville is one of options. I could move to somewhere else once I get to know Chicago well.
How long does it take from Naperville to Chicago downtown with & without traffic?
I don't mind living in Naperville but don't want to be too far to go to Chicago...

aragx6 · 03-23-2012, 01:57 PM

I would live in Naperville proper, the closer to downtown the better. You'll be close to work, have easy access to the Metra (which is really the best way to get downtown because even on the weekends traffic jams are a regular thing), and the downtown area is quite cute. It's not a cheap area though -- what's your budget look to be?

TheWayISeeThings · 03-23-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayim25

Thank you, I'm excited to move there. Living in Naperville is one of options. I could move to somewhere else once I get to know Chicago well.
How long does it take from Naperville to Chicago downtown with & without traffic?
I don't mind living in Naperville but don't want to be too far to go to Chicago...

On a Saturday the train is 1 hour 7 minutes, but you get to read and relax during your ride. If you drive it'll be about 35-40 minute trip into the city. Parking averages $25 / 12 hours and can be as little at $15 for 3-4 hours if you know where to look.

mayim25 · 03-23-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aragx6

I would live in Naperville proper, the closer to downtown the better. You'll be close to work, have easy access to the Metra (which is really the best way to get downtown because even on the weekends traffic jams are a regular thing), and the downtown area is quite cute. It's not a cheap area though -- what's your budget look to be?

It sounds like LA traffic on weekend. I thought it would be better, but train system is great. The budget is approx. 800-1,000 a month.

mayim25 · 03-23-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings

On a Saturday the train is 1 hour 7 minutes, but you get to read and relax during your ride. If you drive it'll be about 35-40 minute trip into the city. Parking averages $25 / 12 hours and can be as little at $15 for 3-4 hours if you know where to look.

Thank you for the information. Since I go to the concerts regularly on weekday & weekend, I wanted to know the transportation to downtown. 30-40 minutes drive isn't too bad.
How about train at night time? Is it safe?