Thanks for the help everyone. I finally got a chance to make it to Chicago and tour the areas I was considering, including doing the commute. If the mrs can't find a job in the city, I've decided that train/nmh shuttle or CTA from Evanston are the only ways to go (and after driving around Evanston and Wilmette, I've decided to add it back in - as long as I stay away from Howard St). There will be a few days that I'll have to work strange hours, but then the traffic won't be so bad, so I should be handle to the commute then. I won't enjoy the hour-long commute each way, but at least I'll be able to get some work done.

Congrats! Wilmette and Evanston are great places to live in. Purple Line Express is not bad, and if you get on board inbound train at or north of the Davis St. stop, you will have a nice, comfortable seat to work or read a book. :)

I think you will like our city and its environs. There is a lot to do.

Post back if you need anything.

Gotta correct my post - I meant that I'll be considering Evanston and Wilmette in addition to Sauganash/Lincolnwood/Edgebrook... either way, the train will be the way to go. btw, how's downtown Evanston. I liked it, but I was wondering if it is more geared toward college kids.

It's a pretty good mix. There are plenty of NU-oriented things, but also plenty of stuff aimed older. NU's undergrad population is about 8k, city population is about 75k, so it's hardly like a rural college town where everything is aimed toward students.

It also depends which downtown - Evanston has a few. The main one, near Davis St at Orrington, is nice. There's a lot of spillover from NU but also a bunch of nice restaurants and a mix of bars that skew to the college-y.

The strip along Main St is quieter and smaller.

The strip along Central Av is very suburban-feeling.