Oak Park or Forest Park? (Chicago, Evanston: rental, homes, purchase)

[deepballer]

Moving to Chicago in the coming months. Looking to live in Oak Park or Forest Park. I know they border each other, and both have good restaurants & shopping (from what I can tell). Feedback? Thanks!

[soulful]

Many consider Oak Park's school system one of the best. If you have school age children, that may be a consideration.

In Forest Park, you can often get better value for your money in terms of purchasing a home. Forest Park has some fun restaurants and shops.

I find downtown Oak Park more invigorating and a bit larger. More restaurants, bookstores, etc.

good luck with your move

p.s. this site has a "Chicago Suburbs" forum and you might want to post there

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by deepballer

Moving to Chicago in the coming months. Looking to live in Oak Park or Forest Park. I know they border each other, and both have good restaurants & shopping (from what I can tell). Feedback? Thanks!

You may want to post this in suburb forum. Both are as good as it gets for a sub urb though.

[chet everett]

Those that would call either of those towns "as good as it gets"among suburbs most be using a rather unusual yardstick.

Even among towns that directly border Chicago it would be hard to assess how Evanston or other towns are not more broadly desirable than the towns mentioned unless one has a need to commute to western suburbs.

Probably better if the original poster would be more specific in their needs / wants / desires -- Forest Park in particular is not widely regarded as a hub of either fine dining or shopping (though it does have a fair number of tap rooms with bar food, its retail corridor is nothing special...).

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by deepballer

Moving to Chicago in the coming months. Looking to live in Oak Park or Forest Park. I know they border each other, and both have good restaurants & shopping (from what I can tell). Feedback? Thanks!

Forest Park. Your rental or purchase dollars go further, property takes are substantially less than Oak Park and there are bars/restaurants there or close by. I once owned a home in Oak Park. Never again.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by soulful

Many consider Oak Park's school system one of the best. If you have school age children, that may be a consideration.

You pay a huge price to attend what I think are over-rated schools which are consistently overspending hugely. Remember, also, that many people who own homes in Oak Park send their children to Catholic schools, because they don't think public schools there are sufficient. So they pay a huge surgcharge to do that.

[Irishtom29]

Oak Park is good if you send your shirts out to get stuffed.

[Chi-Guy]

I lived in Oak Park for 4 years, and I must admit....it was a love-hate relationship. If you are kid-less, I would recommend Forest Park. If you're going to utilize the public schools - than perhaps Oak Park.

The great thing about that area is that you cross the street and you go from a great area of Forest Park to a great area of Oak Park. I would aim for the area between 290 and Lake street, Harlem and Circle.

[Alacran]

And cross another street and go to either a. Ghetto of maywood or chicago

[dewthedru]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Oak Park is good if you send your shirts out to get stuffed.

comments like these are why i check this forum every few hours. too funny.