Suburb suggestion for Sears Tower job (Chicago, Naperville: to rent, townhouse, safe neighborhood)

[Maggie02]

My husband and I may be moving to Chicago before November, and would like suburb suggestions. He would be working at the Willis (Sears!) Tower, and would work staggered hours (not 9-5 business hours).
Initially, we would like to rent a suburban townhouse in a safe neighborhood, with a small yard for our dog. (We don't have kids.)
Is our budget of about $1500/month realistic? If so, which areas would you recommend?
And what kind of commute would we be looking at?
His job would pay for a parking pass or the train. Do you recommend driving or taking the train into the city?

Thanks for any input. I just need to know where to start my research.

[RoLiki]

$1,500 is realistic for a small townhouse within many communities outlining Chicago.

The train is the best way of getting into the city.

[OakBrookMom]

How long do you want to commute (20, 30, 40 plus minutes)? Also how off are your hours? Certain lines and stops are better for off hours commuting. For example, if I went downtown for a meeting I knew was ending at 2 or 3, I would go out of Downers in the morning because they have mid-afternoon express trains that get me back in 1/2 hour. Depending on your hours there may be a specific station that suites your needs. But while the train is usually the best way in and out of the city if your job ends after the last train leaves (suburban routes don't go all night) then you may have to drive.

[aragx6]

Be sure to check back on your thread in the city forum; I listed a suggestion in there worth looking into!

[almost3am]

Many metra trains end at Union station, which is a 3 minute walk from the Sears Tower. That offers a number of options.

[C. Maurio]

If you take the train to work, which most people do here, any suburb in Cook or DuPage is fine. If you want to ride CTA subway, Oak Park is a straight shot west and pretty decent. Maywood is also there but it is a bit more run down and trashy. And BTW, thank you for calling it the Sears Tower and not that stupid "other name".

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by C. Maurio

If you take the train to work, which most people do here, any suburb in Cook or DuPage is fine. If you want to ride CTA subway, Oak Park is a straight shot west and pretty decent. Maywood is also there but it is a bit more run down and trashy. And BTW, thank you for calling it the Sears Tower and not that stupid "other name".

You can ride the CTA to Oak Park, but from the loop west it is NOT a subway, but jut the "L"

[ToriaT]

If you like a more urban type environment you could try Oak Park. You can take either the train or the L from there to the loop. The Tower is a short walk away. That is about the shortest commute.

You could also go out a bit further and venture to places such as Elmhurst, or Westmont, or on the Burlington line, La Grange, Riverside, Downers Grove, etc. The burlington line is the fastest and its closer to the tower as it stops in Union Station. I think Riverside is a beautiful town I encourage you to visit it. Of course there are many nice towns such as Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn but they are slightly farther west and it takes about forty or forty five min. on the train.

I do not suggest driving. Too congested and expensive.

[mattywo85]

Depending on how off the hours are you might miss a train or two. However Union Station is a 3 minute walk to Sears Tower. There are many suburbs and some neighborhoods in Chicago you can live in for your price range.

www.metrarail.com