charming affordable suburbs with public transit (Chicago, Evanston: section 8, best suburbs, apartment complex)

[DSF53]

Hi there,
I am single mother with elementary school children, have government assistant program for housing, can move to any towns in US that have public housing. Looking for affordable towns with 10-75 k population to settle up, where life expenses are reasonable. We like green towns with charm, cozy downtown , old architecture and low rise townhouses . Would like to buy a condo or house in 1-2 years from now, so consider location for future perspective , with low taxes and stable economy. Prefer a suburb of a big city to spend sometime weekends out. We like 4 seasons states, not humid, hot Florida or , TX... states with show winter. Lake, ocean or mountains towns would be the best.

For now we need apartment complex near the local commercial/town center with public transportation, in or close proximity to downtown.
I don't drive, so public transportation running within/out town limits is a must.
Good elementary schools and safe area is important . Plus if park, grocery store , fresh market, other necessary amenities are in close walking or short ride distance.
If you know Ukrainian / European communities , cross streets or neighbors name, it would greatly help
to consider.
Thanks to everyone for info.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by DSF53

Hi there,
I am single mother with elementary school children, have government assistant program for housing, can move to any towns in US that have public housing. Looking for affordable towns with 10-75 k population to settle up, where life expenses are reasonable. We like green towns with charm, cozy downtown , old architecture and low rise townhouses . Would like to buy a condo or house in 1-2 years from now, so consider location for future perspective , with low taxes and stable economy. Prefer a suburb of a big city to spend sometime weekends out. We like 4 seasons states, not humid, hot Florida or , TX... states with show winter. Lake, ocean or mountains towns would be the best.

For now we need apartment complex near the local commercial/town center with public transportation, in or close proximity to downtown.
I don't drive, so public transportation running within/out town limits is a must.
Good elementary schools and safe area is important . Plus if park, grocery store , fresh market, other necessary amenities are in close walking or short ride distance.
If you know Ukrainian / European communities , cross streets or neighbors name, it would greatly help
to consider.
Thanks to everyone for info.

What do you consider affordable and reasonable?

[damba]

The scope of what you are asking is too wide. You first need to spend time (really, months) researching on your own- utilizing any public assistance organizations that can shed light on how to enter the housing market with your specific needs. Unfortunately, you may be effectively shut out of many of the more desirable areas with less available section 8 housing options in those areas.

[ToriaT]

You are not going to find any "European community" type suburbs with public housing and cheap. You will find a multicultural mix of people. You may be able to find something affordable in a suburb like Berwyn. Its got good public transportation, a mix of people, and its close to the city. Its walkable and relatively safe. The schools are not top rated but they are okay. You are not going to be able to live in the top rated school districts with your criteria.

[RJA29]

Charming, affordable, and public transit will not be a criteria to be found in the Chicago suburbs. Two of the three? Sure. But you are not going to get all of these together.

[JJski]

I would look at smaller cities - maybe in Oh, MI, WI, MN (if Midwest is your desired landing) It is a very expensive cost of living here...

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

You are not going to find any "European community" type suburbs with public housing and cheap. You will find a multicultural mix of people. You may be able to find something affordable in a suburb like Berwyn. Its got good public transportation, a mix of people, and its close to the city. Its walkable and relatively safe. The schools are not top rated but they are okay. You are not going to be able to live in the top rated school districts with your criteria.

Forest Park could work too. The OP’s kids are only in elementary school and the schools are at last passable in elementary (but awful once you get to HS). It is safe, has good access to public transportation, and otherwise seems to have what the OP is looking for.

[Nearwest]

I agree with ToriaT and RamenAddict in their recommendations of either Berwyn or Forest Park. While neither suburb meets all of your criteria, each has a number of positives which seem to be important to the OP.


Forest Park is better for transportation and somewhat better for shopping, while Berwyn is located in a better school district, especially for secondary education. There is bar, restaurant, coffee shop strip along Madison St., which is Forest Park's main business drag. You will also be close to Lake St. in Oak Park, which is that village's main shopping district.

[OKParker]

Originally Posted by Nearwest

I agree with ToriaT and RamenAddict in their recommendations of either Berwyn or Forest Park. While neither suburb meets all of your criteria, each has a number of positives which seem to be important to the OP.


Forest Park is better for transportation and somewhat better for shopping, while Berwyn is located in a better school district, especially for secondary education. There is bar, restaurant, coffee shop strip along Madison St., which is Forest Park's main business drag. You will also be close to Lake St. in Oak Park, which is that village's main shopping district.

Yes, these are definitely the best suburbs with CTAs running every 5-10 minutes (FoPo has 24/7 service) and old brick buildings with cheap rent. Fopo also has some condos and townhomes. When adding in school systems.. you might want to spend the extra few hundred a month to rent in Evanston/Oak Park where the school systems are much better than CPS and US average test scores - these two burbs also have plenty of condos in high rises and an architectural history.

I didn't know your bedroom/rent constraints, but here are a couple 3 bedroom places near a train, grocery, park:
https://hotpads.com/717-washington-b...-skq6hh/3a/pad
https://hotpads.com/531-539-hinman-a...202-tgjyyn/pad

[damba]

Originally Posted by OKParker

Yes, these are definitely the best suburbs with CTAs running every 5-10 minutes (FoPo has 24/7 service) and old brick buildings with cheap rent. Fopo also has some condos and townhomes. When adding in school systems.. you might want to spend the extra few hundred a month to rent in Evanston/Oak Park where the school systems are much better than CPS and US average test scores - these two burbs also have plenty of condos in high rises and an architectural history.

I didn't know your bedroom/rent constraints, but here are a couple 3 bedroom places near a train, grocery, park:
https://hotpads.com/717-washington-b...-skq6hh/3a/pad
https://hotpads.com/531-539-hinman-a...202-tgjyyn/pad

Will a section 8 renter be eligible for apartments at that price point(?)