Is Evanston or Skokie best for us? (Chicago, Naperville: real estate market, apartments)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Chicagoland60426

I don't know what people on here are talking about Evanston being part ghetto. According to the crime states, Evanston crime rate is below the US average and seem mostly safe. The crime rate is just higher than the other North Shore suburbs.

Go hang out in the part of Evanston that borders Rogers Park some day. The two are indistinguishable, and not in a good way.

[US-Traveller]

Evanston is going to have better public schools than Skokie. The Evanston magnet school program also tops any school you would find in the Niles Twp. or New Trier Twp. school districts. I live in the New Trier district and I am satisfied with it, but your budget would be better suited for housing in Evanston. You might also want to check out Skokie-Evanston (Skevanston) which is zip code 60203. It has Skokie taxes, park district, and services, but has the Evanston schools. Skevanston is less expensive than Evanston proper. Evanston is not going to have the crime that even upscale Los Angeles suburbs have, so keep that in mind.

[cubssoxfan]

Can you find rental in Wilmette with convenient acess to Linden Street CTA station? New Trier District and Wilmette PS are excellent. Just another opinion to include with the Skevanston, north Evanston and north Skokie advice. Many other good areas in Skokie to look at as well. West side, Lorel park area; SW Fairview area to name a few.The K-8 districts are very scattered, with at least 5 school districts compared to Evanstons 1 unified school district. I just suggest staying away from the apartment building heavy neighborhoods and looking in a predominantly single family home area.

[US-Traveller]

Southeast Evanston and Central East Evanston are very nice. They may be out of your range but you might find a nice townhome on South Blvd. That is a very nice family area. Most kids go to Lincoln Elementary and Nichols, but some do attend Bessie Rhodes (Timberidge) Magnet. There are many apartment buildings throughout Evanston and they are not bad at all. They just sold a home for $1,640,000 on Elmwood Avenue in Southcentral Evanston that was wedged between two apartment buildings. You should stay away from Section 8 buildings, but many of those are gone, thats what many people who say "stay away" are talking about.

One problem that I have with my experience with the New Trier district is that you can have the brightest kid, but all of the other kids are just as bright. It is the same in Evanston, but it still seems a little less competitive and more community and arts oriented.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

Southeast Evanston and Central East Evanston are very nice. They may be out of your range but you might find a nice townhome on South Blvd. That is a very nice family area. Most kids go to Lincoln Elementary and Nichols, but some do attend Bessie Rhodes (Timberidge) Magnet. There are many apartment buildings throughout Evanston and they are not bad at all. They just sold a home for $1,640,000 on Elmwood Avenue in Southcentral Evanston that was wedged between two apartment buildings. You should stay away from Section 8 buildings, but many of those are gone, thats what many people who say "stay away" are talking about.

One problem that I have with my experience with the New Trier district is that you can have the brightest kid, but all of the other kids are just as bright. It is the same in Evanston, but it still seems a little less competitive and more community and arts oriented.

You seem quite knowlegeable about Evanston. Do you have any insights into Lincoln Elementary? My wife and I have looked at several condos in that district that seem just wonderful, and have heard good things about the school, but not real specifics. Any insights would be appreciated.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

...The Evanston magnet school program also tops any school you would find in the Niles Twp. or New Trier Twp. school districts...

I don't doubt that they may be true, I'd just like the source of the data so that I can share it with others.

[hsw]

If recession is as deep and prolonged as many predict, would expect increases in street crime, esp in any areas closer to poverty....and reduction in quality of any public schools...

Anecdotally, my sense is much street crime is not reported in most urban regions....apathy of police re: filing reports, unless injuries needing surgical repair or coroner; waste of time for victim to report crime....arguably difficult to compare pseudo-statistics

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by hsw

If recession is as deep and prolonged as many predict, would expect increases in street crime, esp in any areas closer to poverty....and reduction in quality of any public schools...

Popular wisdom may say this, but stats show that this doesn't usually happen during economic downturns. Why? Areas with high poverty rates are already living in recession-like conditions. If you have three jobs flipping burgers, you are unlikely to be affected by the recession.

[BrOken]

The train is easier to take in Skokie.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Drover

Go hang out in the part of Evanston that borders Rogers Park some day. The two are indistinguishable, and not in a good way.

No kidding.

I wish people would stop using stats alone to base their judgments on areas. If one took out the crappy parts of Evanston its crime stats would probably be on the level of Winnetka or Highland Park...