Moving Near Burr Ridge (Chicago, Elmhurst: fit in, rent, houses)

[Philly711]

Relocating. Need to be close to Burr Ridge for work. Deciding between WS, Hinsdale, CH, DG, Elmhurst, and Lemont. Budget is $700-800K. Priority is excellent schools. Must be a family-friendly community. New construction is ideal, but not a deal-breaker if the home doesn't need a full update. I have a decent understanding of the W burbs having grown up in Darien. Finding that with high taxes, even $800K, does not go that far. Lemont seems to have gorgeous homes, but is it a less desirable area? What about the new adventure park in Lemont? Is that a pro for residents in the town? All advice appreciated!

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Philly711

Relocating. Need to be close to Burr Ridge for work. Deciding between WS, Hinsdale, CH, DG, Elmhurst, and Lemont. Budget is $700-800K. Priority is excellent schools. Must be a family-friendly community. New construction is ideal, but not a deal-breaker if the home doesn't need a full update. I have a decent understanding of the W burbs having grown up in Darien. Finding that with high taxes, even $800K, does not go that far. Lemont seems to have gorgeous homes, but is it a less desirable area? What about the new adventure park in Lemont? Is that a pro for residents in the town? All advice appreciated!

I'm not sure what your standards are, because $700-800k is definitely middle-to-above average in all of those communities you've mentioned. You're not going to be getting a palace, but a substantial family home—even newer construction—is quite possible.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

I too, worked in Burr Ridge (for over thirty years) but lived in a suburb about ten miles to the east. I can't tell you about local schools, but can tell you that your desire to live near where you work will pay a huge benefit in both time and expense as the years tick past. The absolute fastest I could make it to work ("racing") was about twenty minutes at maybe 2:00 AM, there are simply too many stoplights between here and there in the south and western suburbs, and probability says you'll hit red on half in any single trip. On days with inclement weather, I was looking at 40 minutes or more - I've told people at work some mornings, "There are people who can RUN faster than that". I think my record-longest trip was about an hour-and-a-half, there was an extraordinary traffic jam in about 2008, when the Tri-State dumped all its traffic onto arterials due to a really bad accident. I wouldn't know, though, because I gave up at about the eight mile mark, turned around and went home and took a vacation day.

For a while there after 2008, prices had stagnated and even declined in Burr Ridge and Hinsdale, not sure where they're at today. Willow Springs has cheaper homes but compensates with higher taxes (Cook vs. DuPage). I've heard that Willowbrook homes get a big tax break due to all of the commercial in the village. Quite a few of the folks at my place lived in Countryside and Darien, they are quite a bit cheaper than Burr Ridge and Hinsdale, but there's likely a reason for that.

Indian Head Park and the LaGrange Highlands are definitely two other places to check out, look on Wolf and Willow Springs Road between I-55 and maybe 55th street. There is a "new" development at the corner of 55th and County Line, but I think it went belly up several years back, and they are trying again with places more targeted at seniors. If you've always had a hankering to become a pilot, check out the community of "Brookridge" on Plainfield east of Lemont Road - larger lots, and all of the homes on the airstrip have attached hangars for toys. I've seen some "deals" in there in your price range, maybe you could rent a hangar to someone else with a plane. "Lemont" extends quite a ways north from the town proper, I know a guy who owns a home just south of the expressway west of Lemont Road, nice and quiet in there, but all older homes. There is a relatively new subdivision that went in on Plainfield east of County Line in WS (former golf course), but it seemed a bit overpriced to me. But, ticks your box for "new".

My guess is that if you'd have started a few years ago we'd have been co-workers. Are you an Engineer?

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

I too, worked in Burr Ridge (for over thirty years) but lived in a suburb about ten miles to the east. I can't tell you about local schools, but can tell you that your desire to live near where you work will pay a huge benefit in both time and expense as the years tick past. The absolute fastest I could make it to work ("racing") was about twenty minutes at maybe 2:00 AM, there are simply too many stoplights between here and there in the south and western suburbs, and probability says you'll hit red on half in any single trip. On days with inclement weather, I was looking at 40 minutes or more - I've told people at work some mornings, "There are people who can RUN faster than that". I think my record-longest trip was about an hour-and-a-half, there was an extraordinary traffic jam in about 2008, when the Tri-State dumped all its traffic onto arterials due to a really bad accident. I wouldn't know, though, because I gave up at about the eight mile mark, turned around and went home and took a vacation day.



My guess is that if you'd have started a few years ago we'd have been co-workers. Are you an Engineer?

You can bike faster, once you get conditioned. Generally, you can figure three minutes per mile in suburban traffic. And Burr Ridge doesn't have a Metra station or even much Pacebus coverage. Sounds like a hard place to get to. I am also an Engineer but (thankfully) never worked in Burr Ridge.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by pvande55

You can bike faster, once you get conditioned. Generally, you can figure three minutes per mile in suburban traffic. And Burr Ridge doesn't have a Metra station or even much Pacebus coverage. Sounds like a hard place to get to. I am also an Engineer but (thankfully) never worked in Burr Ridge.

I tried that once (on a weekend), but unfortunately, due to so much truck traffic because of terminals in the area, no bike lanes, having to cross the canal and river, the tollway, I-55, train tracks, etc., it just wasn't feasible if one were not suicidal. The southwest suburbs are pretty bike-unfriendly - much better once you get out past Willow Springs.

I did have a motorcycle for years, which allowed me to pick and choose who I was in proximity with - on a bike, everyone else passes you at one time or another, you don't have much of a choice. That's all in the rear-view now, although I do occasionally stop out for coffee with the former crew. Much more entertaining place to be now, LOL.

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by Philly711

Relocating. Need to be close to Burr Ridge for work. Deciding between WS, Hinsdale, CH, DG, Elmhurst, and Lemont. Budget is $700-800K. Priority is excellent schools. Must be a family-friendly community. New construction is ideal, but not a deal-breaker if the home doesn't need a full update. I have a decent understanding of the W burbs having grown up in Darien. Finding that with high taxes, even $800K, does not go that far. Lemont seems to have gorgeous homes, but is it a less desirable area? What about the new adventure park in Lemont? Is that a pro for residents in the town? All advice appreciated!

Lemont is only less desireable because of its location away from expressways and most populated centers closer to the city and Oak Brook. You can get a heck of a house there for $800k. Lemont is nice, just out of the way.

Burr Ridge might have some houses in that price range since it too, is considered somewhat out of the way because it is far from transportation. But it would have somewhat newer homes in nice subdivisions.

For the best bang for your buck with the best schools, I would try for Clarendon Hills. Hinsdale schools without the Hinsdale prices. Family friendly as well.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

Lemont is only less desireable because of its location away from expressways and most populated centers closer to the city and Oak Brook. You can get a heck of a house there for $800k. Lemont is nice, just out of the way.

Burr Ridge might have some houses in that price range since it too, is considered somewhat out of the way because it is far from transportation. But it would have somewhat newer homes in nice subdivisions.

For the best bang for your buck with the best schools, I would try for Clarendon Hills. Hinsdale schools without the Hinsdale prices. Family friendly as well.

Burr Ridge is about as close to the city as Hinsdale, Elmhurst etc. are. It does lack rail access (and a downtown, and walkability), however it still has a very good location. Still a short drive to both Chicago airports, as well as Chicago itself. I-55 and I-294 are right there.

I like Lemont a lot. Yes, it's a bit further out but does have Metra access, and is also right along I-55. Plenty of good forest preserves/nature in the area, and the schools are decent. Does have a downtown, though not as flashy/polished as Clarendon Hills' DT.

Clarendon Hills is very nice too though. Just west of Hinsdale and closer to Oak Brook. Nice, cute, but small downtown and also good schools. Definitely the most unique housing of this bunch.

Can't go wrong with either of these