Traffic from city to Napervillle (Chicago, Naperville: middle-class, where to stay, rental)

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by olholm

Okay thanks a lot I will then be looking some apartments in the west part of Chicago so it's possible reaching the I290 quite easy :-)

Be aware that the western sections of Chicago right along 1-290 can be somewhat dangerous and not well kept. You'd probably be better living downtown or just west of downtown, or out in Oak Park (the first suburb to the west of the city). Those areas tend to be a bit nicer.

[olholm]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

Be aware that the western sections of Chicago right along 1-290 can be somewhat dangerous and not well kept. You'd probably be better living downtown or just west of downtown, or out in Oak Park (the first suburb to the west of the city). Those areas tend to be a bit nicer.

Ahh sorry I think you've got me wrong was also thinking on the west of downtown :-) still want to live in the centre and not too far away since I'm bringing my wife and kid as well so have to be a safe place.

[Vlajos]

UIC area south of 290 might be a good option.

[Mr Downtown]

No, you have to choose the segment you want statistics for.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by olholm

Ahh sorry I think you've got me wrong was also thinking on the west of downtown :-) still want to live in the centre and not too far away since I'm bringing my wife and kid as well so have to be a safe place.

How old is your child? Are you looking to enroll your child in public school?

[olholm]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

No, you have to choose the segment you want statistics for.

Hmm okay I will try working this out and see if I can get the right one then :-)

[olholm]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

How old is your child? Are you looking to enroll your child in public school?

My child is only 2 months so no school yet :-) But will look for options of day care or play groups as well. But it's not planned my wife have to work in the beginning.

[chet everett]

BNSF is via Union Station.

The UP-W line out of Ogilive serves town from Elburn & Geneva through Oak Park.

If you will be working in any part of Naperville and wish to live inside the Chicago city limits you should budget at least 50 minutes for the morning commute and approximmately 20% additional for the return in the evening. A "reverse commute" via the BNSF portion of the Metra commute rail line may be more pleasant, as you could sleep, read or work on the train, but even with rare shuttle bus service (which a handful of employers do have) your day would likely be even longer and you would have little flexibility for work hours which are often extended...

Naperville itself is a very walkable town -- your wife and child would have lots to do. Getting to the City on the weekend would be much more pleasant than fighting traffic every day.

I generally recommend that folks unfamilar with the commuting patterns in the region live as close to work as possible.

Originally Posted by nowincal11

I've done it before. Morning is actually not as bad as afternoons. Morning I would say 45 minutes give or take a few depending where in Naperville. Afternoons in the middle of winter and middle of summer are worse, probably an hour. If you live west of downtown, that could cut 10-15 minutes out of your trip. Plus if traffic is bad, you could exit the Ike (290) and take local.

METRA is a good option, but live close to a METRA station (Naperville used to go to Ogilvie in the West Loop). On the other end, see if you can park a car nearby or at the station. That way when you get to Naperville, just drive to work from the station (the station used to have a waiting list). If not, check to see if the company has a shuttle.

[Vlajos]

I generally advise people seeking to live in the City, live in the City. It's much more pleasant.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I generally advise people seeking to live in the City, live in the City. It's much more pleasant.

Agreed. Unfortunately the difficulty for those with school age children is that CPS makes no provisions in their lottery system for those relocating to have a shot at the desirable selective admissions schools. That leaves only the "neighborhood attendance" schools, few of which are desirable and all the good ones are in areas that are no shorter a commute / more costly / more crowded / no more entertaining than desirable suburbs...

Since the OP will be working in Naperville and does not have school age children perhaps the important consideration is what sort of time frame they have for their stay in the region and how their "checklist" of preferences might best be met -- in mmy mind if they are eager to get to know the area a short commute will give the whole family more time to do that.