Suggest a Suburb for Safety, Schools & Downtown Commute? (Chicago: hotel, house)

[damba]

You should also be looking at information/data provided directly from the various districts too. Get all the minutiae regarding the various programs and services offered once you target two or three different districts/suburbs as viable places to reside. Also keep in mind that quite often the K-8 districts can perform quite differently than the HS districts they feed into. YMMV.

IMNSHO you are correct regarding the tendency for some folks to split hairs over test scores. Sometimes by removing the ELLs (English language learners) you get a bit of an equalizing factor.

Originally Posted by ConcreteRooster

We're not looking for the very top schools, just trying to determine what the delta is between "very top" and "just under very top"...





...and from these responses ("splitting hairs"), it sounds like it's more of photo finish, i.e. the differences are minimal, as opposed to significant. So I don't think we're necessarily splitting hairs, but rather doing a sanity check. Is the difference between these schools like the difference between a Lexus and Toyota, or between a Lexus and a horse-drawn buggy?



The spreadsheets my wife got (from schooldigger.com IIRC) have a tremendous amount of data, and we haven't had a chance to dig through it in detail (pun intended). But from a cursory review of the data, our thoughts are consistent with your comments.

Anyone out there with an opposing view, i.e. very-top schools are markedly better than near-top schools?

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by ConcreteRooster

Fortunately for me, we have no customers or dress code, so just about anything goes as far as "work clothes".

My current Metra stop is a bare platform (no building/shelter). Standing on it during the "polar vortexes" of two and three years ago prompted some investment in extreme cold weather wear. My Metra line was screwed up more often than not (especially three winters ago), so I spent a lot of time standing in the freezing cold on that bare, windy platform. I certainly don't enjoy it, but with the right clothes, it's not too bad.

But, yes, biking in extreme cold winter... we'll see. Of course I'd prefer a short walk, but it's looking like I'm going to have to compromise. We only have one car now, and I'd like to keep it that way.

If budget is the cause for compromise, you may want to cross-shop a short walk in Wheaton. Analogous to Downers in every way, with proper Metra stations, short train trips, excellent schools, lively downtown district, and that friendly Rockwell vibe.

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by ConcreteRooster

The spreadsheets my wife got (from schooldigger.com IIRC) have a tremendous amount of data, and we haven't had a chance to dig through it in detail (pun intended). But from a cursory review of the data, our thoughts are consistent with your comments.

You'll also find good resources on Illinois Report Card - it's not RAW data, but it will allow you to filter and see outcomes that match yours.

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

If budget is the cause for compromise, you may want to cross-shop a short walk in Wheaton. Analogous to Downers in every way, with proper Metra stations, short train trips, excellent schools, lively downtown district, and that friendly Rockwell vibe.

I like Wheaton, but it felt sleepier and more removed from the city than Downers. Prices are comparable, although does one have more high end than the other? The 750K range should provide good homes in both areas.

[4122]

Originally Posted by RJA29

I like Wheaton, but it felt sleepier and more removed from the city than Downers. Prices are comparable, although does one have more high end than the other? The 750K range should provide good homes in both areas.

Wheaton is a bit more expensive than downers Grove, but you can get a nice home for 750K in both areas.

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by RJA29

I like Wheaton, but it felt sleepier and more removed from the city than Downers. Prices are comparable, although does one have more high end than the other? The 750K range should provide good homes in both areas.

That's funny, I felt downtown Downers was sleeplier when I was shopping, and still do. Regardless, both downtown districts have seen much recent development, and both are among the most lively in Chicagoland.

Downers is a shorter trip to the city by about 10 minutes, but I think Wheaton offers a lot to young families that Downers can't:

- Better elementary schools, middle and high schools a wash
- 200+ acres more parks and public green space
- Lower violent crime rate; property and theft rates are half (FBI 2014 Crime In The United States)
- Two large public waterparks (Downers has no public pool)
- Public zoo, free of charge (Cosely Zoo)
- Endless recreational opportunities and enhanced pedestrian ingress via the Prairie Path (Illinois Prairie Path)
- Best private golf course and second best public course in the state (The Best Golf Courses in Illinois | Golf Digest)
- Museums, climbable military tanks, and formal gardens at Cantigny (Cantigny Park)
- Learning opportunities at the history museum (DuPage County Historical Museum)
- Equestrian education and horse events at Danada (Danada Equestrian Center)
- Outdoor education and programs at Lincoln Marsh (Lincoln Marsh)
- Year round fun at the DuPage fairgrounds (DuPage County Fair: Calendar of Events)
- Downtown community theater (Wheaton Drama), local improv troop (Westside Improve), and annual Shakespeare in the park (Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night)
- Downtown bandshell with free concerts and the best orchestral band around (Wheaton Municipal Band)
- Endless and impressive array of bordering parks, including Morton Arboretum, Kline Creek Farm, St. James Farm, Blackwell Forest, Danada Forest, Herrick Lake and more

Central Wheaton is more affordable than central Downers right now, and it's worth cross-shopping if the OP's budget has pushed them an uncomfortable distance from Downers' core.

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

That's funny, I felt downtown Downers was sleeplier when I was shopping, and still do. Regardless, both downtown districts have seen much recent development, and both are among the most lively in Chicagoland.

Downers is a shorter trip to the city by about 10 minutes, but I think Wheaton offers a lot to young families that Downers can't:

- Better elementary schools, middle and high schools a wash
- 200+ acres more parks and public green space
- Lower violent crime rate; property and theft rates are half (FBI 2014 Crime In The United States)
- Two large public waterparks (Downers has no public pool)
- Public zoo, free of charge (Cosely Zoo)
- Endless recreational opportunities and enhanced pedestrian ingress via the Prairie Path (Illinois Prairie Path)
- Best private golf course and second best public course in the state (The Best Golf Courses in Illinois | Golf Digest)
- Museums, climbable military tanks, and formal gardens at Cantigny (Cantigny Park)
- Learning opportunities at the history museum (DuPage County Historical Museum)
- Equestrian education and horse events at Danada (Danada Equestrian Center)
- Outdoor education and programs at Lincoln Marsh (Lincoln Marsh)
- Year round fun at the DuPage fairgrounds (DuPage County Fair: Calendar of Events)
- Downtown community theater (Wheaton Drama), local improv troop (Westside Improve), and annual Shakespeare in the park (Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night)
- Downtown bandshell with free concerts and the best orchestral band around (Wheaton Municipal Band)
- Endless and impressive array of bordering parks, including Morton Arboretum, Kline Creek Farm, St. James Farm, Blackwell Forest, Danada Forest, Herrick Lake and more

Central Wheaton is more affordable than central Downers right now, and it's worth cross-shopping if the OP's budget has pushed them an uncomfortable distance from Downers' core.

That's quite the list! It came down to commute time for me. I've seen plenty in Downers near Main and Belmont for 750K. Wheaton, too, both stops.

[My Kind Of Town]

Originally Posted by RJA29

That's quite the list! It came down to commute time for me. I've seen plenty in Downers near Main and Belmont for 750K. Wheaton, too, both stops.

Another big plus for DG is its lower property tax rate when compared to Wheaton. Might not seem like much of a difference (DG less by 0.53%) but that amounts to roughly $4k/year on a home valued at $750k. That's pretty substantial.

Compare your property tax rate (database) - Chicago Tribune

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by My Kind Of Town

Another big plus for DG is its lower property tax rate when compared to Wheaton. Might not seem like much of a difference (DG less by 0.53%) but that amounts to roughly $4k/year on a home valued at $750k. That's pretty substantial.

Compare your property tax rate (database) - Chicago Tribune

I feel if you're in the market for a 750k house 4K isn't going to break the bank, but I see what you're saying.

[My Kind Of Town]

Originally Posted by IrishIllini

I feel if you're in the market for a 750k house 4K isn't going to break the bank, but I see what you're saying.

$4k/yr in taxes is equivalent to an additional approx. $75k in purchasing power when financed over a 30-yr loan. So its very possible someone with a $750k budget in DG would have less than a $700k budget in Wheaton all else equal.