best N/NW chicago suburb for childless, free thinking female?? (Waukegan: condos, homes)

[geoc]

I want to move out of the city of Chicago but am concerned with the blandness and banality of the stereotypical suburban life.

I love the beauty of the North Shore--with its mature trees and beautiful older homes--but don't want to spend as much $ as those areas would require, especially since I am not looking for family-oriented activities and good schools.

What is Northfield/Prospect Heights like?

Is it true that the only suburbs with true 'character' are Evanston and Oak Park?

Thanks for any feedback or guidance you can provide.

[Chinolala]

Originally Posted by geoc

I want to move out of the city of Chicago but am concerned with the blandness and banality of the stereotypical suburban life.

I love the beauty of the North Shore--with its mature trees and beautiful older homes--but don't want to spend as much $ as those areas would require, especially since I am not looking for family-oriented activities and good schools.

What is Northfield/Prospect Heights like?

Is it true that the only suburbs with true 'character' are Evanston and Oak Park?

Thanks for any feedback or guidance you can provide.

Well Oak Park, Forest Park and Evanston have urban feels to them. Much of the North Shore is loaded with character, just not an urban one.

[cubssoxfan]

I want to move out of the city of Chicago but am concerned with the blandness and banality of the stereotypical suburban life.

I love the beauty of the North Shore--with its mature trees and beautiful older homes--but don't want to spend as much $ as those areas would require, especially since I am not looking for family-oriented activities and good schools.

What is Northfield/Prospect Heights like?

Is it true that the only suburbs with true 'character' are Evanston and Oak Park?

Thanks for any feedback or guidance you can provide.

The closer in, first "ring" suburbs usually have more of an urban feel. They were planned and built more densely. Also mainly built before WW2 when towns were still built primarily around walking and public transit. Evanston is my favorite, primarily because of access to the lake and Chicago.

Northfield and Prospect Heights are more typical suburbs built around single family housing with some town homes and condos. Neither have much of a downtown. Prospect Heights avoid the condos north of Palwaukee airport (Chicago Executive Airport).
Both are nice towns. I would suggest Arlington Heights or Palatine. Both have nice downtowns with restaurants, bars and shops. Both have older homes around downtown since they are older railroad towns that evolved into suburbs. It all depends on how urban & dense you want to go and if you want to live near and walk to shopping etc. instead of relying on a car. Character is subjective. Provide some more details and perhaps the suggestions will become more detailed as well.

[mendelman]

Well, if you want something even a little "urban", scratch Prospect Heights right off your list. It's barely a suburb and more a collection of rural-like subdivisions.

Park Ridge and Arlington Heights have about the most urban character in their respective central cores in the northwest suburbs. Oak Park and Evanston are nice, but pricey. to make assumptions about your desires, I would recommend Forest Park. The housing prices have dropped to a normal level now, it has L and Metra access and easy access to 290, it is easy to access the services in Oak Park as well has its own nice commercial/entertainment core along Madison, and since you don't have kids you don't have to worry about the schools (K-8 are decent, but the high school has a bad reputation.

Good Luck.

[JustJulia]

Having lived in suburbs all my life and being quite comfortable there, I always wonder what "urban character" is supposed to be. Is it the joy of not having your own garage or something?

[mendelman]

Originally Posted by JustJulia

Having lived in suburbs all my life and being quite comfortable there, I always wonder what "urban character" is supposed to be. Is it the joy of not having your own garage or something?

No.

For me, it's the ability to walk places to accomplish errands/entertainment and not have to drive to do every single thing outside your house. That's pretty much number one for me, which is available around Arlington Heights' downtown or in the northern section of Forest Park.

[JustJulia]

That makes sense, I suppose. Do you really prefer walking places when it's damp and windy?

[chet everett]

Forest Park is NOT a North or Northwest suburb, it is WEST.

No doubt anyone who worries about BANALITY is simply not suited to live anywhere but among the most elite of civilization.

That won't be found in Northfield or Prospect Heights. Frankly all of the US is rather banal. I suggest moving to Prague or Budapest at the earliest opportunity...

[mendelman]

Originally Posted by JustJulia

That makes sense, I suppose. Do you really prefer walking places when it's damp and windy?

Indeed. I walked the .7 miles to work this very morning. You just have to know how to dress for the weather.

[Lookout Kid]

Try Park Ridge near the "Uptown" commerical district. It's not much cheaper than Evanston, however!

Arlington heights is a pretty basic boring suburb, but has a somewhat vibrant downtown with condos.

Waukegan has a downtown that seems like a good place to get mugged.

The Ravnia and downtown areas of Highland Park do offer at least a little bit of action.