Moving to Chicago. Best places to live? No idea where to live. (Union: rent)

[unc40pilot]

I will be working in Willis Tower. Young couple. Wanting to live in a safe, fun, nice schools, $800-1300 rent range, shortest commute possible but want to live in the suburbs. My wife is a teacher so nice schools is a high priority too. Would like to find a small town feel if that is possible at all. Would like to be close to one of the Men's Rugby Teams practice fields also. I've only been to Chicago once in my life so I have only been to the tourist spots. I know virtually nothing about living there. Thanks for any help that I can get.

[aragx6]

^I think I would focus first on the wife's employment and then choose where to live after that unless you have to make the move before that would be logistically possible. I say this only because the metro area is geographically huge and I'd hate to see her miss an opportunity at a good district because you're living on the opposite side of the metro.

Willis is a bit closer to Union Station than it is to Ogilvie, though Willis is walkable from both, so you might just start looking at suburbs along the Metra lines that head to Union Station. I know most about the BNSF train line and there are a lot of very nice suburbs just off of it.

Best of luck!

[chet everett]

If the OP's spouse has a stellar portfolio to showcase her skills as a teacher, the necessary certificates, and the ability to teach an in-demand sub-specialty she MIGHT be a good candidate for employment in a desirable district but there are an ABUNDANCE of folks with similar stellar credentials all lined up for SCARCE jobs so the fact is ANY district is somewhat of a long shot...

If a job search is engaged in NOW there is a good chance that maybe a mid-year opening will be available for a teacher taking a pregnancy leave in second term...

There are some adult rugby leagues -- Rugby is ever growing | Chicago Rucks

Originally Posted by aragx6

^I think I would focus first on the wife's employment and then choose where to live after that unless you have to make the move before that would be logistically possible. I say this only because the metro area is geographically huge and I'd hate to see her miss an opportunity at a good district because you're living on the opposite side of the metro.

Willis is a bit closer to Union Station than it is to Ogilvie, though Willis is walkable from both, so you might just start looking at suburbs along the Metra lines that head to Union Station. I know most about the BNSF train line and there are a lot of very nice suburbs just off of it.

Best of luck!