Lake Forest vs Northbrook, Glenview, or Wilmette (Chicago, Schaumburg: homes, high school)

[EffortPoaster]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I specifically indicated that I thought that was low. The point, again, was that it was not a majority, which is what you insisted.

Just stop with your endless "oy veying" in this thread. I'm Jewish and I've been active in the North Suburban Jewish community before, but who cares if others don't want that? Jewish communities and suburbs certainly do have a unique feel, which is not for everyone.

In short, give it a rest, we already run media, finance and academia. Don't get stereotypically greedy.

[chicagoliz]

I'm just amazed to see it specifically stated. Between this and a recent thread in the Boston forum where someone posted looking only for white areas. Bad enough to be seeking it, but to outright state it without shame is surprising to me. I suppose it should not be. OP would probably be happiest in the western or southwestern suburbs, but that commute to Deerfield would be terrible. If she goes further north and further west, she'll find more of what she might want. She'd probably really like Barrington, but that's a tad far from Deerfield, although I suppose it's do-able.

[EffortPoaster]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I'm just amazed to see it specifically stated. Between this and a recent thread in the Boston forum where someone posted looking only for white areas. Bad enough to be seeking it, but to outright state it without shame is surprising to me.

Lol, why is this so surprising, or even shameful? At least we finally get past the fake pretense of "good schools" and "quiet neighborhoods" when people really mean "I'd be most comfortable around people who mostly look like me who are also of a similar socioeconomic class and have similar social values." It's legitimately the most natural inclination ever. Btw, this kind of reasoning literally defines Israel (which I am fine with), although American Jews who support the "Borders for Me" (Israel) but "None for Thee!" (America) mantra legit drive me up a wall with their hypocrisy.

Would you say the same thing if a Jewish family was looking for a Jewish community? I'd guess no, so let others be.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by EffortPoaster

Lol, why is this so surprising, or even shameful? At least we finally get past the fake pretense of "good schools" and "quiet neighborhoods" when people really mean "I'd be most comfortable around people who mostly look like me who are also of a similar socioeconomic class and have similar social values." It's legitimately the most natural inclination ever. Btw, this kind of reasoning literally defines Israel (which I am fine with), although American Jews who support the "Borders for Me" (Israel) but "None for Thee!" (America) mantra legit drive me up a wall with their hypocrisy.

Would you say the same thing if a Jewish family was looking for a Jewish community? I'd guess no, so let others be.

I don't want to have to get into a huge back and forth, but it is not at all the same when a minority ethnic group or religious group seeks others, versus when the dominant racial or religious group seeks not just others like them, but such a majority that any minorities are virtually nonexistent in the location.

[DancinMomof3]

Thanks to all for your thoughts, feedback, and comments. There is no "easy" or "correct" way to ask such questions, realtors will never truly and honestly answer them (nor are they probably allowed to), and online statistics will rarely show them. It's just so difficult trying to choose the perfect community fit for one's family from so far away, knowing nothing about an area except from what you learn through online research and a weekend visit. If only we had more time to do so, but I am planning another weekend visit during which we hope to make some decisions. Somehow, and from what I'm learning about these north shore towns and suburbs, I don't think we can really go wrong with any of them.

I truly appreciate both the honesty of so many members on this site, and just the time you all spend trying to help a complete stranger!

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I don't want to have to get into a huge back and forth, but it is not at all the same when a minority ethnic group or religious group seeks others, versus when the dominant racial or religious group seeks not just others like them, but such a majority that any minorities are virtually nonexistent in the location.

I don't see how it's different. Are you saying that a Jewish person in Chicagoland is "allowed" to seek a Jewish area, but they're "bad" if they do the same in the NYC area? And if they want a Jewish area in Israel, they're downright horrible?

Birds of a feather flock together. Nothing wrong with this. Jews, Christians, blacks, whites, gays, whomever, usually wish to live around people similar to them. It doesn't seem relevant to me whether the "birds flocking together" are small groups, large groups, or utterly dominant groups.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

I don't see how it's different. Are you saying that a Jewish person in Chicagoland is "allowed" to seek a Jewish area, but they're "bad" if they do the same in the NYC area? And if they want a Jewish area in Israel, they're downright horrible?

Birds of a feather flock together. Nothing wrong with this. Jews, Christians, blacks, whites, gays, whomever, usually wish to live around people similar to them. It doesn't seem relevant to me whether the "birds flocking together" are small groups, large groups, or utterly dominant groups.

No, not at all, and I'm not sure how you arrived at that interpretation.

I'm surprised you don't see the difference between a majority wanting to exclude a minority and a minority wanting to have access to certain services/amenities, and to have adult mirrors/mentors for children, etc. There is a difference between the majority and a minority, and there exists oppression - you can easily find information on this.

Christians are simply not an oppressed or underrepresented minority in this country. Neither are white people. Or straight people.

[4122]

Back to the OP's question... If you're worried about wealth and whatnot, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Deerfield are not the places for you. The North Shore is the wealthiest area of the Chicago area (especially Lake Forest) and they're all very homogeneous communities. I wouldn't worry about being a Christian in a Jewish community. people from where I live (Highland Park, so roght around where you're looking) don't judge others for not being Jewish.

Personally, I prefer Glenview over Northbrook. I feel as if Glenview has more character and just has more going on in general. The neighborhoods are pretty and don't look the same whereas on Northbrook, a lot if areas look the same. Glenview also has downtown Glenview and the Glen. Northbrook is more preferable by others because schools are ranked better. This is only because Northbrook is less diverse. Glenview is a great community and the schools are higly regarded.

Here are the towns you should consider:
-Highland Park
-Glenview
-Mount Prospect
-Prospect Heights
-Arlington Heights
With MP, PH, and AH, Prospect HS and Hersey HS are the best high schools in the district. Your money will go further in these areas, but resale value will still be good.

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by damba

Majority? Nope. Can you notice it? Sure. Mostly secular in the burbs though, regardless of the fact that Jewel happens to have a really nice Kosher deli. Keep in mind that in the next sport over the situation might be flip flopped- been there, done that

Let's just agree to disagree on this one, with the agreement that there do not seem to be many Hasidic Jews around. Plenty of conservatives though.

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

Thank you thank you thank you Paige65 for clarifying this. chicagoliz seemed to be under the impression that Northbrook (which has almost as high a % of Jews as Highland Park) only had a 1.1% Jewish population. This would be laughably small, and probably about what you'd expect up in Libertyville or Grayslake. Northbrook's marketshare of Jews in Chicagoland is probably almost as high or on par with Highland Park IMO. The biggest difference really is that Northbrook has a lot more Asians & Indians than Highland Park generally speaking.

I know that when I worked retail at a drug store in the Ravinia section of Highland Park maybe some 13 or 14 years back, the vast majority of our customers were Jewish. Not a knock on them whatsoever. Who can blame them when it's a beautiful, desirable place to live just like most of the other North Shore suburbs.

That's my Walgreens, 847! Unless you worked for the lone pharmacist shop across the street (that's now out of business).