Possibly moving back to Chicago--West Suburbs
 

It looks like I'm going to be offered a job near Naperville. Though my wife and I met in Chicago and lived in Lakeview for a few years, we're not all that familiar with the suburbs. Trying to figure out where we'd live; if we can't figure that out to our satisfaction I'll stay put.

So given the below (in rough order of importance to us), are there specific 'burbs/neighborhoods you'd recommend? Note that these are *all* important but some are just a little more important than others.

• Within half an hour or less of the I-88 / SR 59 area (very important; I freaking HATE to sit in traffic on a commute)
• Excellent schools
• Good selection of single family homes at ~$500K
• Access to parks and other outdoor activities
• Some degree of character

Thanks for any tips. Feel free to PM if you'd like.

Naperville.

2nd that.

When I was young(er) and single in Chicago, chasing skirt, etc. one of my friends and I used to joke that someday we'd wind up in Naperville.

:(

I'll send my questions via PM.

Welcome home....

Naperville should be excluded with the following desire of Mikey likes it
I don't envy your relocation position, kids & job come first but Naperville is whitebread stripmall suburbia, you won't get any of the things you were used to in the city, but c'est la vie and congrats on the new job if you take it.^

You are also somewhat close to our groups golf course so we usually need a fourth!!

I'm all over it. Are you still playing that course with the 700 yard hole?

I think you're being a little harsh - not that I have ever lived there or ever would. :) I can't imagine ANY suburb that far out that would meet all of the qualifications. Sure, everybody loves Oak Park and Evanston, but then there is that drive....

http://www.naperville.il.us/communit...aperville.aspx

http://www.naperville.il.us/dynamic_...t.aspx?id=1394

I definitely think Naperville has all of these characteristics. Schools are great. Housing options are in your range.

I agree with one of the other posters though that it's not as diverse as it could be. Aurora has more diversity but is also less consistent in terms of economic security/schools. Wheaton is even more conservative than Naperville. Bolingbrook is quite diverse and there's been alot of development there in the past 10 years or so.

But, yeah . . . in terms of having all the criteria on your list and staying in proximity to your job . . I'd vote for Naperville . . . or maybe Schaumburg.

Naperville is great, though it's large and certain neighborhoods have more character than others. I would encourage you to at least consider Glen Ellyn, which is within your 30 minute commute but is a touch closer to Chicago, should satisfy you on housing/schools/parks, and arguably has more consistent character.

Thanks for the comments/suggestions. My wife is the house hunter so I'll unleash her on the unsuspecting realtors of Naperville and environs.

My alternative to finding a reasonable place to live in the W Suburbs is one of the below, in order of preference. This should illustrate how important where I live is to me/the family. I'd rather live somewhere I like and be there less often than deal with a bloody commute.

a) live someplace like Indianapolis, drive to the office and spend Mon-Thurs in a hotel (blech though not as much as flying)
b) commute via air from my current location (blech plus cost adds up)
[dupe]
d) decline the job
e) live in Chicago and deal with a lousy commute and poor schools

TVM for the kind words about my town.
We're in "downsize mode". If anyone wants to build their 7000 sg ft dream home on my lot, pls PM. Owner financing available. :D

Speaking on the character part alone, some of the river towns on the Fox have a lot of it, like Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.

I agree Naperville is your best fit, though many city dwellers loathe the notion. OT- There are actually some great CPS Schools (Bell, Blaine, etc.) the porblem is you'll pay quite a substantial premium to live in those neighborhoods, and your commute would still be oppressive.

The pain will escalate when Mayor Richie finally bites the bullet and enacts a city income tax to pay for his admin's waste/sloth.