Working in Joliet - where to live? (Commute from Naperville?) (Chicago: living in, restaurants)

[eman530]

Hello All,

I will be relocating to the area in the next few months to take a job in Joliet. I am currently researching places to live.

My workplace will be in the very southern part of Joliet, south of the river.

I am 28, male and single. While living in Chicago would be great, I know I'll have to throw that dream out as a 2 hour each way commute does not seem very appealing.

Right now I am looking at Naperville. Doing some research, it seems like a decent place for a young professional, with some bars and restaurants and decent night life and also plenty of other good stuff to do, and also has direct train access to downtown Chicago. I also cruised through there and it seems like a good place.

What I don't know right now, is how will the commute be? Google maps says about 40-45 minutes, but I'm not sure if this accurately accounts for traffic.

Does anyone have any insight in what this commute will be like? I currently have a 35-45 minute commute for my job and don't mind it - I'm hoping to keep around this range maximum.

Thanks!

[4122]

Naperville is so big, it would depend on what part of Naperville you would be commuting from. It would be around 40 minutes from northern Naperville and far west Naperville, but around 30 minutes from the southern part.

[eman530]

Thanks for your response.

I don't know too much about Naperville but I checked out the downtown area and that looked very nice - I would like to live close to there if possible.

Google maps has me going down I-55 to get to and from work from Naperville. I believe when I checked out the area, starting from about my workplace, my GPS had me take 59 to Naperville - I could see how this drive would get old real quick.

Does anyone have any insight on how traffic would be during the standard rush hour times - 7 am and 5 pm? I currently have a congested, 45 minute commute that turns me into a zombie after I get home. Any idea if I'll experience anything like this? I'd prefer not to, but for the sake of happiness, I'll put up with it.

[chet everett]

Trying to get to a job in Joliet while living in Naperville will mean you do face some traffic issues but the alternatives are no better.

Joliet is a town that covers a large area with mostly low population density. Even in the parts of town that could support dense residential the lack of jobs / retail make for bleak conditions.

The west side of Joliet is less run down but still hardly the kind of place a young single would feel good about -- chain restaurants that close early and other "family oriented" options don't really offer much for the OP.

Naperville is probably the way to go, get you smart phone set up with Waze and try to time the trips for minimal traffic hassles....