Living in Chicago while working in Niles, IL (Irving, Golf: for rent, house)

[jyoung111]

My girlfriend and I will be relocating to Chicago from St. Louis is a couple of weeks. I have a job in Niles. We want to live in the city. We just sold her car, but I’ll be keeping my vehicle. We aren’t sure what neighborhood would be a good fit. We are both in our early 30s, no kids, two dogs. What’s a good neighborhood to own a car. We have a budget of about $1600-$1800 for rent. Looking for a one bedroom. She will look for a job in the city. Thanks for any help

[BOBNCHI]

Niles, Jefferson Pk, Portage Pk, North Pk, Old Irving Pk for starters.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by jyoung111

My girlfriend and I will be relocating to Chicago from St. Louis is a couple of weeks. I have a job in Niles. We want to live in the city. We just sold her car, but I’ll be keeping my vehicle. We aren’t sure what neighborhood would be a good fit. We are both in our early 30s, no kids, two dogs. What’s a good neighborhood to own a car. We have a budget of about $1600-$1800 for rent. Looking for a one bedroom. She will look for a job in the city. Thanks for any help

How long of a work commute can each of you tolerate?

[MSchemist80]

It depends a bit on where in Niles as it is a big Z shaped subburb that extends from Golf Mill on the northwest to Village Crossing on the southeast. Niles itself is kind a blue collar meh with not great direct access to public transit from the city so you will probably have to drive. I'd at least try to stick to the northwest side of the city. Jefferson Park would probably be ideal.

[micvic89]

Edison Park. Public transportation and restaurants and bars. Look on/near Northwest Highway (street). We lived there before we moved to Niles. Also maybe rent house in Niles for your budget. Might be more practical with your dogs. Your still near EP and easy access to city and other burb places.

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

It depends a bit on where in Niles as it is a big Z shaped subburb that extends from Golf Mill on the northwest to Village Crossing on the southeast. Niles itself is kind a blue collar meh with not great direct access to public transit from the city so you will probably have to drive. I'd at least try to stick to the northwest side of the city. Jefferson Park would probably be ideal.

The public transit access to Chicago is actually not half bad. Pace bus 270 runs through much of Niles, along Milwaukee Ave. It runs more often and ends later than a lot of Pace routes. If the OP plans to life in Jefferson Park, they will have a direct connection to route 270. Even more so, Pace is adding an express version of route 270, called "Pulse", with longer bus stop spacing and retimed stoplights. The remaining question is the OP's job location, which may or may not be near this bus route.

[NorthSideSoxGuy]

I think Jeff Park, Old Irving Park or Mayfair would be ideal for your situation. They're all in the city — with access to the Blue Line and buses to get you downtown/to more "happening" places — but with a more of a laid-back, suburban feel where you won't have a problem finding parking or getting around in your car.

Although, as MillennialUrbanist points out, Niles' public transit is actually somewhat decent for public transit. A commute to the city would be doable on the 270 pace bus.

[MSchemist80]

I've taken 270-Blue Line from Golf Mill. It is 30-40 minutes on the bus and 40 minutes on the train plus wait and walking so 1:30-1:45 each way to down town. I make about the same time biking downtown from Niles (Cumberland-Prospect-NW-Highway-Brynmawr-Elston-Milwaukee)