Possible relocation to Chicago (condo, townhome, neighborhoods)

[wifie050804]

My husband may take a job in Chicago so I'm already researching some things. I guess my first question would be do most people live in suburbs and commute to work? He'll be working about 10 min S of downtown. We are in Wichita and have the luxury of no traffic and little commute...somedays he makes it home in 15 min and that's at 5 pm! What is an average commute time in Chicago?

Thanks!!

[gelert]

There are a jillion different places to live, so there are no easy answers. Really depends on your budget, where exactly you work (and therefore public transit options), and other lifestyle preferences/needs (eg, kids, city/suburb preferences, etc.)

We'll need more info on your specifics to provide any useful answers. By 10 min S of downtown do you mean Hyde Park / UChicago?

[SWAChicago]

yea say good bye to that luxury commute forever lol. unless you're wealthy enough to live that close to downtown you'll be okay. I live in the southwest suburbs and commutes during rush hour are a pain. It literally can take half hour or more to travel 2 miles. Now imagine commuting during rush hour from a suburb into downtown.... I'm sure many other members would happily describe that joyous experience

but as gelert said, we need more info to help you out.

[JJski]

depending on your town desires (fun core, historic district, schools, parks, vibrancy, lake) + Budget you can still have it all here. it just can be pricey, really pricey - it is chicago...

[ToriaT]

Kiss goodbye that commute. Mostly it will be at least an hour if not a little more unless you live in the city quite close. Most people don't necessarily live in the suburbs. Some like in the burbs, some city. Generally the suburbs have better schools that are public. Many city dwellers move from the city when they have school age children. Sounds like you should investigate the suburbs to live in with a train line to the city. Need to know more info to really help.

[wifie050804]

Not familiar with the neighborhoods at all, but a google map search shows the location to be around South Lawndale? Maybe that's not even close to downtown?? I have no idea. This is our situation: we are in our late 30's, early 40's. Two young children, only one will be school age, so good school district is ideal. Wichita homes are very affordable: our home is almost 3000 sqft (including basement), 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, huge backyard, and was 200k. Is that even possible to buy a home for that much in/near Chicago?
I'm assuming it's more affordable to live in the burbs so that's what I've been looking at. I would prefer to live in the city, but I don't think we can afford it based on what I've seen. We definitely will not move unless his offer is significantly more than what his salary is now b/c I know Chicago will be much more expensive than Wichita KS. So, hopefully, our house budget will be more than what it would be here.

[4122]

The suburbs are expensive too. Even in further out suburbs, you won't be able to get what you have for $200k. The most you could get would be between 2000-2500 and that's the more affordable suburbs that are still safe, which many of them are over an hour from the city. In a lot of suburbs, you might only be able to get a townhome or a condo.

[pvande55]

Unless you can get on the same Metra line as your office, stay within ten miles. If the job is downtown you have it made, you can live anywhere within 40-50 miles, though service from the southwest suburbs isn't as good. In the city if you really want to live close, some neighborhoods are good.

[BrianTWolf]

Originally Posted by wifie050804

Two young children, only one will be school age, so good school district is ideal. Wichita homes are very affordable: our home is almost 3000 sqft (including basement), 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, huge backyard, and was 200k. Is that even possible to buy a home for that much in/near Chicago?

Just to give you some rough numbers: an average middle class Northwest Suburb with schools ranked 8-10, a median house will cost $150-200/sq ft. So a 3000 sq. ft. house will be approx. $450-600k. Obviously this is a generalization but should give you some idea.

By the way, we don't count basements in the square footage - so that should save you some money!