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Old 03-14-2013, 06:12 AM
 
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My husband is considering a job near the southwest corner of Park Ridge (Cumberland blue line station) so we're researching where to live. We have a 2 year old and a baby on the way and currently live in a suburb near DC. We value community feeling and being able to walk places from our house (grocery store, playgrounds, maybe schools) more than having a big house. Our budget will be about $500-630K We've read about the issues with the Chicago public school system so need to look into the suburbs and are hoping we can find the walk-ability we want in a suburb. We will consider Park Ridge because of the short commute but are concerned about the air traffic noise. What are your thoughts on the driving commutes from the following suburbs to the Cumberland station area:

Arlington Heights
River Forest/NW Oak Park
North Shore (Winnetka/Glencoe, Highland Park)

I try to estimate with google maps traffic but, where we live, this tool seems to underestimate traffic congestion/time averages so people who are familiar with the area will of course know better. Thank you in advance!
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Old 03-14-2013, 08:17 AM
 
Location: Lake Arlington Heights, IL
5,479 posts, read 12,229,156 times
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Arlington Heights commute would be 20 minutes.
North Shore would be 35-50 minutes.
Guessing Oak Park at 30 minutes.

If you live near downtown Arlington Heights you are walking distance to: Metra, parks, pool, library, live theater, movie theater, groceries, restaurants, bars, coffee, banks, village hall, McDonalds Dance Academy (if 2 year takes dance class in the future), places to work out, a Tuesday evening running club at Runners Hi & Tri, and a variety of retail. Elementary D23 and Hersey/Prospect HS are top notch.

I don't see the need to move farther!
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Old 03-14-2013, 08:27 AM
 
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NW Oak Park is lovely, but is less walkable to the pool, library and about 1 mile or so from the grocery store. Tons of great parks in that area. Because Oak Park is very small from a land perspective, I would definitely expand your search to other areas in the north or central part of the Village (the southern end of the village is lovely but would add about ten minutes to the commute), River Forest is also a great option, although your budget is a bit strained for the northern area of RF. Northern RF is not walkable to anything other than some great restaurants in Elmwood Park (sushi, Chinese, Italian, kid friendly pizza, great burgers). South RF may more options in your budget but would, again, add a good ten minutes to the commute.
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Old 03-14-2013, 10:47 AM
 
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The relative ease of getting to Park Ridge from other towns along (or near...) the UP-NW line "corridor" as well as the corridors along both 294 and the Edens make for a long list of desirable towns within a very manageable commuting radius.
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Old 03-14-2013, 10:50 AM
 
Location: Lake Arlington Heights, IL
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True, but east/west travel can be slow. I remember a 35-40 minute commute from Skokie (Howard/Kostner) to Des Plaines (Mt.Prospect Rd/Oakton) during one summer internship. Touhy was a bit faster than Oakton, but LOTS of stoplights! So the thought of commuting from Winnetka, Glencoe or Highland park just makes me think, "why?"!
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Old 03-14-2013, 04:26 PM
 
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Thank you for your comments. I thought the north shore area might be too far with traffic but thought I'd ask before we planned our house hunting trip. Thanks again.
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Old 03-15-2013, 10:40 PM
 
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I would look on the north side of Park Ridge (approximately north of Touhy). I live in the county club area and the air traffic noise is essentially nonexistent. Even from the northern edge of Park Ridge it would only take 15 minutes to the blue line station. The schools here are excellent and for your price range you'll be able to get something nice.

I lived in Oak Park before moving up here last summer. The commute to PR was not horrible but you are stuck taking mostly slow moving streets like Cumberland or Harlem, it will take around 30-40 minutes depending on where in Oak Park you're coming from and what time of day you're traveling.
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Old 03-16-2013, 05:46 AM
 
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Thank you ACM79. This info really helps. We're checking out houses near the country club in Park Ridge. Maybe we'll be neighbors by the Spring/Summer.
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