Living Outside North Chicago (Arlington Heights, Highland Park: apartment, to rent, houses)

[kirsty1089]

Hello!

I recently accepted an offer to work in the suburb, North Chicago. From reading previous forum threads, it does not sound very appealing to live there. Does anyone have suggestions about where to live? These are my interests/criteria:

- I am a 25 single female and while I don't want to be living across from frat houses, I would still enjoy living in a hip area. Preferably with fun things to do, restaurants, and low-key nightlife places.

- I highly dislike commuting over 45 minutes. A short commute to North Chicago and access to Chicago via the trains is ideal.

- Does an apartment exist within these parameters under $900?

Thanks!

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by kirsty1089

Hello!

I recently accepted an offer to work in the suburb, North Chicago. From reading previous forum threads, it does not sound very appealing to live there. Does anyone have suggestions about where to live? These are my interests/criteria:

- I am a 25 single female and while I don't want to be living across from frat houses, I would still enjoy living in a hip area. Preferably with fun things to do, restaurants, and low-key nightlife places.

- I highly dislike commuting over 45 minutes. A short commute to North Chicago and access to Chicago via the trains is ideal.

- Does an apartment exist within these parameters under $900?

Thanks!

Do you mean the city OF "North Chicago" or do you just mean the northern Chicago area?

[knitgirl]

she said in her OP "the suburb, North Chicago" pretty clear to me. Sorry OP, I have no idea. I've heard Lincolnshire has a fairly lively downtown, I dunno.

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by knitgirl

she said in her OP "the suburb, North Chicago" pretty clear to me. Sorry OP, I have no idea. I've heard Lincolnshire has a fairly lively downtown, I dunno.

Thank you for your lovely contribution to this thread, if only to correct my post.

OP, I've hear Zion, Gurnee, Wintrhop Harbor, and Grayslake are all nice.

[chet everett]

In the opinion of most folks that have standards for good schools / stable housing values towns like Zion and Winthrop Harbor would not be on their list.

Gurnee and Grayslake are more affordable than other towns in Lake Co like Libertyville or Highland Park, but a signficant step down in school quality and housing price stability.

If you don't mind a little longer commute you might find housing prices in place like Nile or Morton Grove compare faviorably and give access to better schools...

[knitgirl]

Originally Posted by chet everett

In the opinion of most folks that have standards for good schools / stable housing values towns like Zion and Winthrop Harbor would not be on their list.

Gurnee and Grayslake are more affordable than other towns in Lake Co like Libertyville or Highland Park, but a signficant step down in school quality and housing price stability.

If you don't mind a little longer commute you might find housing prices in place like Nile or Morton Grove compare faviorably and give access to better schools...

OP is a 25 yr old single female looking to rent. Don't think schools come into play on this one.

[chet everett]

Regardless of the OP's situation in regard to her own lack of need for schools the overwhelming pattern of development in the region shows a strong association between higher performing schools and more desirable neighborhoods. Even inside Chicago itself there are few areas that attract the kinds of residential development associated with stable / increasing property values if the schools are not desirable. From Hyde Park to the traditional near-to-the-lake northside areas to the parts of Chicago favored by city workers along its suburban borders good school and stable property values move in lock-step...

Even when it comes to towns that have developed attractive nightlife there is strong association among those towns that attract folks who value quality schools. The simple fact is that areas that lack people with the kinds of jobs that give them disposable income to spend on dining / nightlife / entertainment will also not have any businesses that would appeal to folks with professional type careers.

[nikitakolata]

If it were me, I would probably target something near downtown highland park since it wouldn't be a bad drive to North Chicago and is a nice town with train access to Chicago.

Maybe something like this:
Fabulous Units for YOU! Call TODAY! 730 Judson Ave
2nd Floor, 1 BEDROOM w/ BALCONY & COURTYARD VIEWS! Avail NOVEMBER!!!

If you can increase your budget a little there seem to be many options.

Another area I would consider would be Libertyville. In either case, I would personally want to be near the downtown core and train station, since that is going to be the most walkable and urban-feeling part of the towns.

North Chicago is a tough location for night life. I can tell you what you probably don't want to do is work in North Chicago and commute there from Bucktown the way my friend did. She was always calling me from the expressway where she was stopped/stuck. She has commutes of over 3 hours more than once due to weather issues. Not fun at all.

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

If it were me, I would probably target something near downtown highland park since it wouldn't be a bad drive to North Chicago and is a nice town with train access to Chicago.

Maybe something like this:
Fabulous Units for YOU! Call TODAY! 730 Judson Ave
2nd Floor, 1 BEDROOM w/ BALCONY & COURTYARD VIEWS! Avail NOVEMBER!!!

If you can increase your budget a little there seem to be many options.

Another area I would consider would be Libertyville. In either case, I would personally want to be near the downtown core and train station, since that is going to be the most walkable and urban-feeling part of the towns.

North Chicago is a tough location for night life. I can tell you what you probably don't want to do is work in North Chicago and commute there from Bucktown the way my friend did. She was always calling me from the expressway where she was stopped/stuck. She has commutes of over 3 hours more than once due to weather issues. Not fun at all.

+1 for all of this...

[cubssoxfan]

I would also suggest Libertyville, maybe Highland park. And it may be right on the edge of a 45 minute commute, but Arlington Heights is worth considering.