Walkable community w/good high school - $450,000 budget (Chicago, Arlington Heights: house, to buy)

[Suey123]

We're revisiting a possible Chicago move with our two teenagers. We're looking for a community with a good high school that is w/in a 45 minute commute of downtown Chicago. We'd like to buy a single-family home for under $450,000 and to live in a community where we can walk to the library, restaurants, etc.

Recommendations on where to begin?

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by Suey123

We're revisiting a possible Chicago move with our two teenagers. We're looking for a community with a good high school that is w/in a 45 minute commute of downtown Chicago. We'd like to buy a single-family home for under $450,000 and to live in a community where we can walk to the library, restaurants, etc.

Recommendations on where to begin?

While this has been discussed here (try the search function), you'll want to look towards communities on the Metra lines. Lombard, parts of Downers Grove, parts of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and Lisle come to mind.

[aga412]

Originally Posted by RJA29

While this has been discussed here (try the search function), you'll want to look towards communities on the Metra lines. Lombard, parts of Downers Grove, parts of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and Lisle come to mind.

Lombard is a little eh (from a school perspective).

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by Suey123

We're revisiting a possible Chicago move with our two teenagers. We're looking for a community with a good high school that is w/in a 45 minute commute of downtown Chicago. We'd like to buy a single-family home for under $450,000 and to live in a community where we can walk to the library, restaurants, etc.

Recommendations on where to begin?

To live in walkable community for $450k is doable. Living within walking distance to a core / those amenities will be a bit more difficult.

There is another active thread very similar to this one.. If you consider cost, walkability, amenities, and school district, I'd suggest looking near the following downtowns: Downers Grove, Arlington Heights, Wheaton.

There are more, but these balance all of the criteria nicely.

If you can find a house for $450k that you think is liveable, then Park Ridge, La Grange/Park, ELmhurst would all be great fits. Evanston and Oak Park are the most obvious choices, though my confidence in a house in that price range is low.