Employer moving me to Chicago from NYC. where to live? (Evanston: apartment, transfer to)

[zachb7]

So my employer wants me to move to Chicago in January. I haven't accepted the position yet but am very very close to moving. I've done a bunch of trolling around the forums here and they seem super useful, but I haven't quite found an answer to my question yet (unless there isn't really one).

I'll be working a block from the Clark stop in the loop, but am hoping to find a large-ish 1-bedroom or maybe smaller 2-br (I just recently got married so there needs to be plenty of space for 2) for less than $1500, and I'd like to not be right in the city. We both grew up in the suburbs, and she doesn't want to live right in the middle of the city. I also have a car (dont really want to use it for commuting though) so easy parking would be nice too.

I've got about an hour commute to work right now (living in queens and walk/subway to midtown) so anything less than that is fine. Are places like Lincoln Park or Logan Square worth looking into? or are there other places that might be better? Rogers park has some nice looking places listed on CL, but seems a little far. I do want to stay a short walk to the subway/metra. thanks for any info/input!

[SoonToBeChicagoan]

Wicker Park? It's only 4 stops away on the blue line...

[jessiegirl_98]

If you don't want to be right in the city, then you can try the nearby burbs of Oak Park and Evanston. Lincoln Park and Wicker Park are very much in the heart of the city, so those aren't the best options if you don't want city living. You could try some place like Ravenswood, or West Lakeview for more of a neighborhood feel.

[j33]

Do you want to live in a similar neighborhood as Queens here? If you want a more residential area of the city, I would suggest areas like Jefferson Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Old Irving Park. These areas of the city are a bit less dense, but still in the city proper and you'll be able to take public transportation downtown.

Finding a two bedroom for less that 1500 shouldn't be much of a problem unless you are wanting a full amenity two bedroom apartment on the gold coast or in the middle of the LOOP. In many of the nicer city neighborhoods you should be able to find one from between 1100-1500 that should fit the bill, further out, even less.

[zachb7]

thanks for the suggestions jessie and j.. those sound a lot more like what I'm looking for.

do you think a car would be useful/necessary if I'm living that far out? or would I be fine without it if I'm withing a few blocks of public transit?

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by zachb7

thanks for the suggestions jessie and j.. those sound a lot more like what I'm looking for.

do you think a car would be useful/necessary if I'm living that far out? or would I be fine without it if I'm withing a few blocks of public transit?

If you are living in the burbs, it is doable, but a car would probably be nice. Anywhere in the city is doable without a car.
When you find places, you can go to Chicago Transit Authority | 1-888-YOURCTA and enter your apartment address and work address to see what the commute will be like via the el/buses.

[amy_cate]

Originally Posted by zachb7

So my employer wants me to move to Chicago in January. I haven't accepted the position yet but am very very close to moving. I've done a bunch of trolling around the forums here and they seem super useful, but I haven't quite found an answer to my question yet (unless there isn't really one).

I'll be working a block from the Clark stop in the loop, but am hoping to find a large-ish 1-bedroom or maybe smaller 2-br (I just recently got married so there needs to be plenty of space for 2) for less than $1500, and I'd like to not be right in the city. We both grew up in the suburbs, and she doesn't want to live right in the middle of the city. I also have a car (dont really want to use it for commuting though) so easy parking would be nice too.

I've got about an hour commute to work right now (living in queens and walk/subway to midtown) so anything less than that is fine. Are places like Lincoln Park or Logan Square worth looking into? or are there other places that might be better? Rogers park has some nice looking places listed on CL, but seems a little far. I do want to stay a short walk to the subway/metra. thanks for any info/input!

yay! another relocating new yorker. my husband and i just moved here 2 months ago (time flies). i grew up in the burbs but my husband grew up in brooklyn. i lived in nyc for several years and always had a challenging commute (most recently from bklyn to LIC, what a headache!!). i think you should come visit and check out different neighborhoods to get a feel for them. we both had lived in park slope, carroll gardens, williamsburg, etc. and we fell in love with the lincoln square/ravenswood/north center area (not sure where one ends and one starts). we like how it's more quiet, residential, but also has great restaurants and bars. i'm off the brown line as well as the metra, and i just take the brown line to transfer to the red for faster service downtown. good luck!

[maluminse]

no no no if your just moving there you gota live in the thick of it. how old are you? if your under 25 you gota live in lincoln park off lincoln avenue. any other age you gota live in wicker park or wriglyeville. if you have the money the gold coast is also in the thick of it.

[zachb7]

I'm 26. the wife and I both grew up in the suburbs (her of a small city in ct, me of boston), and she kinda wants to get out of the city. So restaurants and bars is ok, but just looking for a place that feels more "neighborhoody" than "city"

[doublesuited77]

you should also consider that Chicago has MUCH less reliable public transportation than new york. trips that would take 10 minutes on the new york subway can take an hour in Chicago. Plus the CTA is always threatening to cancel service every 3 months.