Renting a home in Downers Grove near Fairview metra (rental, new home)

[Jmf1221]

Hi everyone,
My husband and i are expecting our first child and looking to finally flee the city for suburban life. We will be renting for a year before buying. We are semi familiar with the western burbs as a whole, but have a lead on a rental home walking distance to the Fairview metra. House is great, but we drove around the neighborhood last night and it seems pretty mixed- some beautiful homes and some that are in shambles. I am assuming this is the less desirable area of DG but i could be wrong. Does anyone live in the area and can comment on safety, walkability, overall vibe that a young family can expect? Are there lots of other young families there?

[RJA29]

The answer to your question about desirability will depend, largely, on where near the Fairview Metra station you are. If you are North and West, it is a highly desirable area. I suspect that this is not the case. Nonetheless, walking distance to the Metra, and still in DG proper, you have a good area. I moved here a handful of years ago (near the Belmont Metra station) and the percentage of "homes...that are in shambles" has decreased significantly, as the tear down mania has only hastened.

I have no indications (personally or through statistics) that you would need to worry about safety. I prefer to be a little closer to downtown DG, but you will find, in the area you mention, that there are lots of young families. Most of the older housing stock is from older holdovers who lived here long ago. The new homes you mention - those are largely the young families.

The schools aren't at capacity, but they are not in danger of closing - so I suspect the number of young families is appropriate for the area. I have a 3 yo and a newborn, myself.