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Old 05-10-2007, 06:26 AM
 
17 posts, read 149,535 times
Reputation: 23

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I have posted this question before and haven't received much of a response...

I am moving to the area soon and I need to choose a suburb...

I'm 26, and single...would love to live in a nice, safe, trendy area, where there are things going on...maybe a fun nightlife.

Some people have told me that, being young and single, I DEFINITELY want to live in the city....but I don't know about that....

I have two little dogs that need some space, and I need some space...places in the city look very expensive for very little space...I am a teacher, and not exactly paid a giant salary. Also, schools in the suburbs are reportedly much better to teach in than Chicago Public Schools.

I'm probably leaning towards a decent apartment complex, hopefully with some people my age around, with a pool and a gym.

I would go into the city for fun, shopping, nightlife, and the beach during the summer, so I don't want to be insanely far away from it (though most of the suburbs don't look that that bad of a commute at night?)

Well, I am moving soon so I really need some help with this... please send info or any links to helpful websites. Thanks in advance!

PS If anyone has info on good schools that need a special education teacher, feel free to share that info too
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Old 05-10-2007, 08:43 AM
 
Location: Phoenix metro
20,004 posts, read 77,235,482 times
Reputation: 10370
There are gazillions of apartments in Naperville, which I strongly suggest you try out. We lived at Railway Plaza which we really enjoyed (expect upwards of 1,000$ a month for a 1 BR), and right next door they built another massive luxo complex called Bristol Station or something like that. Whats nice about those apartments is that theyre right next to the train station (Metra-Naperville) which takes you right downtown. Of course, Naperville is HUGE and has many other complexes, so you can pick and choose from dozens of complexes. There is also a renovated old factory that they turned into lofts (exposed beams, ducts, etc) which are also right on the tracks, and only about 1/2 mile from the super trendy/popular downtown (which offers great nightlife!). I cant remember the name of it for the life of me though... Whats nice about that place is there are dry cleaners, and restaurants right in the building. There is everything to do in Naperville that you can dream of. The traffic is a bear at times, but once you know the town you can sneak around the backroads and avoid the traffic. Where are you moving from?
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Old 05-10-2007, 06:05 PM
 
Location: Evanston
153 posts, read 208,641 times
Reputation: 19
I have lived in Evanston for over 20 years and I am moving to Wilmette because my son has decided to attend New Trier. I moved here when I was 28 with my husband after medical school. My husband was the one who wanted to live here. My husband fell in love with it after graduating from Northwestern. When we first moved here we rented an apartment near Ridge Avenue and Noyes. For a 26 year old single Evanston is the best suburb for you. Evanston has tons of restaurants, bars, parks, shops, and meeting places. Evanston is the most trendy and most urban suburb. Evanston has one of the best police departments, which makes Evanston very safe and quiet, but it does make nightlife inexistant. Evanston tends to start slowing down at 9:30 and dead by 11:00 on most days and 12:00 on Saturdays. But Evanston is only 40 minutes by car and 30 minutes by CTA or Metra to downtown Chicago's hot spots. Evanston has had a highrise movement since the late 90's and now there are about 10 highrises mostly luxury condominiums and apartments. Evanston has a lot of open space and one of the most dog friendly areas. Sometimes I think there are more dogs than humans! Evanston has a wonderful school system (I tried to tell my son) divided into two districts. School district 65 which spans grades K to 8th Grade, and District 202 which is Evanston Township. Park School on Main Street is a special education school for K to 8 that is constantly hiring the most qualified professionals. I have a friend who is a history teacher at ETHS and makes $120,000 a year. Another nearby alternative is New Trier in Winnetka and Northfield (my son's school). Housing in Evanston can be expensive a one bedroom unit will be around $1500+ for what you want, Condos start at $300,000 to well over $1 Million, and single family homes will run you $450,000 to over $4 Million. Evanston is a wonderful diverse community of young hard working proffesionals. Housing alternatives can be found in the surrounding suburbs of Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Wilmette.

Apartments:
www.parkevanston.com
www.reserveatevanston.com
www.stringerapartments.com

New Condominums:
www.winthropclub.com
www.optimaweb.com
www.grandbendatgreenbay.com (broken link)

Town Websites:
www.cityofevanston.org
www.skokie.org
www.wilmette.com

Other:
www.cnscvb.com
www.skokiechamber.org
www.wilmettechamber.org
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Old 05-11-2007, 12:48 AM
 
Location: Southern California
3,455 posts, read 8,324,957 times
Reputation: 1419
I think I responded to this before...but just want to say it again. The suburbs are not a bad choice for a young single woman. I chose the same thing -- I lived in the city for awhile but there are pro's and con's no matter where you choose to live. I for one, prefer the suburbs when it comes to the chicago area (other cities, I might prefer the actual city, but this is how I feel here).

Evanston is good...but it is also quite urban. If you really want a more suburban feel I would look further north somewhere like Libertyville perhaps.

Its hard to go wrong north and northwest of the city. Dont be afraid to be different -- plenty of young people choose to live in the suburbs, and it is harder to make friends since your not in college anymore, and most people in the suburbs know people already -- but many of us have moved back here for a reason (those of us that grew up out here). Many of my teacher friends make friends with new teachers and bring them out to meet new people. I've met a lot of people that way as many of my friends are teachers

I am way far north / northwest and believe it or not we have tons of night life and up here and its mostly tied to boating and recreation on the chain o lakes...lots of drunken boaters! I dont know if you would want to live this far out (chain o lakes area) but just thought I would say -- yes, there is life outside the city for sure!

everyone has given good suggestions, but it will depend on how you feel in that area. hopefully you can visit and do a lot of driving around to see where you feel the most comfortable as everyone has a different idea of what home should feel or look like.

good luck
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Old 05-11-2007, 12:45 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 102,932,742 times
Reputation: 29981
Nobody seems to have mentioned this, so I will... be careful not to put the cart before the horse. It sounds like you don't have a teaching job lined up yet. Do that first and THEN decide where to live, or else you could end up with a murderous commute.
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Old 05-11-2007, 08:37 PM
 
Location: Illinois
92 posts, read 445,090 times
Reputation: 26
Good point Drover...

MissV, do you have an idea of where you might get a job (like what city)? I'm a single 29 year old female who has lived in Palatine, and now near Algonquin. I like both areas, and will prob move back to Palatine area in the fall.

Feel free to PM me with any more questions!
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Old 05-24-2007, 11:38 PM
 
Location: Wilmette, Illinois
50 posts, read 94,124 times
Reputation: 43
Evanston is your best bet. You can have an urban type of environment in Evanston or a suburban environment, depending on the part of town you pick. There's not great nightlife, but you have easy access to the city on the El or Metra trains.
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Old 05-24-2007, 11:56 PM
 
58 posts, read 251,992 times
Reputation: 12
what about bensenville/wood dale/roselle/glen ellyn areas?

low living still able to get some property for pups and equal travel for most schools in areas?
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Old 05-25-2007, 01:33 AM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 102,932,742 times
Reputation: 29981
It might help to know that the OP has provided in another thread that she will be working in Aurora. Evanston isn't such a great bet after all...
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