Hinsdale Vs. Glencoe (Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg: sale, home, tech jobs)

[adele115]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

It's not ridiculous, it's absolutely true. Both Hinsdale and Glencoe are terrible choices for those who prioritize walkability.

Why would anyone move to the suburbs if it were a priority to have everything walkable? Not one wealthy Chicago suburb is pedestrian-oriented. Even Evanston or Oak Park, not wealthy suburbs, aren't pedestrian oriented like cities. Almost everyone has a car in these cities. Almost all residences have off-street parking. Pedestrian traffic is very light. People have back yards. Public transit is limited.

I don't think it makes any difference that Hinsdale has a one-block downtown and Glencoe doesn't, because A. The North Shore has tons more such downtowns than anywhere around Hinsdale, so if tiny upscale downtowns float your boat, the North Shore would probably be your choice, and B. No one moves to suburbia primarily to have an urban experience.

If the OP really wants to live in a suburb, and really wants the closest approximation to a walkable, affluent suburb, then he shouldn't look in either city. North Evanston or Wilmette are probably the best choices (though even they still feel suburban and car-oriented, just not to the same extent).

I would invite you to visit Hinsdale sometime because your intel is faulty.

[gardener34]

Always northern burbs. That area has the best jobs and companies that hire.

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by gardener34

Always northern burbs. That area has the best jobs and companies that hire.

No, sorry.

[BrianHunter]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

No, sorry.

Well if you look at the 33 fortune 500 companies in Illinois there are 15 in the North Suburbs and 5 in the west suburbs so the poster isnt totally off base. Now whether they are hiring I dont know. For the west I took Schaumburg/hoffman estates and anything south so the west got Motorola and sears which is in Schaumburg/HE.

[chet everett]

There are plenty of decent employment opportunities in the western suburbs but the real "plus" for towns like Hinsdale is that excellent rail service means super quick trips to the Loop AND the very good connections to 294 & 55 mean outstanding access to BOTH airports and all the employment options that require travel. Really a huge plus compared to the relatively poor access to even O'Hare from North Shore and abysmal access to Midway....

[BrianHunter]

Originally Posted by chet everett

There are plenty of decent employment opportunities in the western suburbs but the real "plus" for towns like Hinsdale is that excellent rail service means super quick trips to the Loop AND the very good connections to 294 & 55 mean outstanding access to BOTH airports and all the employment options that require travel. Really a huge plus compared to the relatively poor access to even O'Hare from North Shore and abysmal access to Midway....

I just did a google and Wilmette is 29 mins and 14.4 miles to ohare and Hinsdale is 23 mins and 17.1 miles to Ohare. The metras are about the same. Midway is 28 miles/59 mins for Wilmette and 17 miles/27 mins for Hinsdale.

[Lookout Kid]

People always seem to discount the access that Evanston and Wilmette provide to the North Side of Chicago. This is a serious positive to me.

[holl1ngsworth]

Interesting comparison here:

Winnetka and Glencoe collectively contain 3,428 households earning in excess of $200k annually.
Hinsdale and W. Springs collectively contain 3,561 households earning in excess of $200k annually.

Hell, my own nook, Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, collectively contains 4,379 households earning in excess of $200k annually.

The North Shore is not the be-all and end-all. Plenty of wealthy folks are attracted to the charm and convenience of the desirable Western suburbs.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by BrianHunter

I just did a google and Wilmette is 29 mins and 14.4 miles to ohare and Hinsdale is 23 mins and 17.1 miles to Ohare. The metras are about the same. Midway is 28 miles/59 mins for Wilmette and 17 miles/27 mins for Hinsdale.

The question was GLENCOE vs HINSDALE

I don't know what nonsense the above poster fed into Google maps but here is the output from google maps:

via Lake Cook Rd and I-294 S 29 min
19.7 miles
26 min without traffic · Show traffic
This route has tolls.
Metra Station
724 Old Green Bay Rd
Glencoe, IL 60022

Head northwest on Old Green Bay Rd toward Beach Rd
0.5 mi

Turn right onto Green Bay Rd
1.1 mi

Turn left onto Lake Cook Rd
5.0 mi

Use the left 2 lanes to turn left to merge onto I-294 S toward Chicago
Partial toll road
12.0 mi

Take the exit onto I-190 W toward O' Hare
Partial toll road

vs

via I-294 N 21 min
16.4 miles
20 min without traffic · Show traffic
This route has tolls.
Hinsdale Metra Station
Get on I-294 N in Cook County from S Washington St and US-34 E/Ogden Ave
6 min (1.9 mi)
Continue on I-294 N. Drive to I-190 W in Chicago
16 min (14.5 mi)
O'Hare International Airport
10000 W O'Hare Ave, Chicago, IL 60666

Similarly the fastest BNSF express from Hinsdale is 27 minutes which SOUNDLY trounces the 40 minutes of the fastest UP-N from Glencoe

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Schedule

vs

Metra Union Pacific North (UP-N) Schedule

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The question was GLENCOE vs HINSDALE

Similarly the fastest BNSF express from Hinsdale is 27 minutes which SOUNDLY trounces the 40 minutes of the fastest UP-N from Glencoe

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Schedule

vs

Metra Union Pacific North (UP-N) Schedule

40 minutes from Glencoe? Wow! On a crow's flight it's only a 18.5-mile trip from the Glencoe platform to OTC. Wheaton is a full 24-mile trip and even our trains are quicker than Glencoe.