Thinking of Moving to Chicago, what areas should I avoid living in? (Lincoln: neighborhoods)

[itswhoiam]

I recently got a job offer to work in the Chicago (O'Hare) Airport. I am married with (by the time we move) an infant daughter. What neighborhoods should I avoid? Which are the safest? I will be working long hours and I don't want to have to worry about my wife and new child. Our budget is around $1500 on the top end and we would need at least 2 bedrooms. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[marothisu]

Will you own a car? What type of commute do you want?

Generally, the most dangerous areas are Austin, Humboldt Park, most of Garfield Park, Englewood, Lawndale, etc. I don't think you'd have a reason to live in those places. They are pretty far from O'Hare anyway.

If you don't care about having places to walk to out your front door, then I'd recommend areas like Jefferson Park, Norridge, Norwood Park. They are all safe, a little more suburban, but closer to the airport and the freeway. If you want some of that, having the ability to walk out of your door and walk to some restaurants and stuff, then look at an area like Ravenswood/Lincoln Square. My girlfriend awhile ago saw a few nice 2 bedrooms up near Foster & Damen within your budget. The downside to this is that you're further away from the freeway and your commute would be longer than if you lived in say...Jefferson Park or Norridge. Irving Park too is near the freeway and pretty safe. The commute would be probably 15-20 minutes shorter than Ravenswood/Lincoln Square.

[itswhoiam]

I will definitely have at least one car. and I'm looking for a reasonable commute, say half hour to and hour on the outside. As far as Proximity, We are looking for more a suburban setting.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by itswhoiam

I will definitely have at least one car. and I'm looking for a reasonable commute, say half hour to and hour on the outside. As far as Proximity, We are looking for more a suburban setting.

Yeah, definitely check out the areas like Jefferson Park, Norridge, areas of Dunning, Norwood Park then..they are more suburban but still in the city. Jefferson Park is good because there's the Blue Line train that goes through it along the freeway, same as Norwood Park. This is good for when you want to go to other various neighborhoods or downtown. Driving and parking downtown = expensive, and easy to just hop on the train without having to worry about anything (i.e. traffic, high downtown parking costs, etc) and get right downtown and some other cool areas. Also, the blue line goes right into O'Hare, so if you wanted to ever cut the cost of driving (i.e. gas), then it's a good way of doing it in a fast way, especially from an area like Jefferson Park.

[itswhoiam]

Thanks, that help alot!

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by itswhoiam

We are looking for more a suburban setting.

Post here...

//www.city-data.com/forum/chicago-suburbs/

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

Post here...

//www.city-data.com/forum/chicago-suburbs/

I think the guy is open to living in the city in a more suburban setting. Just because that's mentioned doesn't mean anything..an area like Jefferson Park is fairly suburbanish.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by itswhoiam

I will definitely have at least one car. and I'm looking for a reasonable commute, say half hour to and hour on the outside. As far as Proximity, We are looking for more a suburban setting.

The neighborhoods marothisu mentioned offer a residential type of setting within the city, but if you're looking for a more truly suburban setting, I would look into the actual suburbs, not the city. (O'Hare is closer to many suburbs than it is to most of the city, anyway.) There's a separate Chicago suburbs forum you can post your question in if you haven't yet.

[itswhoiam]

Thanks for the info...I will post there as well