u/_stephs

Hello! We've decided Oak Park is the right fit for us and will be moving at the end of the year. Now we're trying to narrow down where in Oak Park to focus our house search.

For those with young kids, would you recommend living north (south of Madison) of the Eisenhower or south, or are both equally good for families? Our kids are 5, 4, and 1, and one of the things we love about Oak Park is the community feel—block parties, kids out riding bikes/playing with neighbors, parks, etc. We'd really love to land on a block where there are lots of young families so the kids can have friends nearby and it's easy to meet people. Are there particular areas you'd recommend? There are definitely more houses available north of LakeWe’d love to have a house to move into but are also flexible renting while we search around.

We'd also love any insight on elementary schools and daycares, especially for the younger two. My husband will commute to the West Loop and I work remotely, so access to the Blue/Green Line or Metra is also a consideration.

Thanks, as always, for all the input!

Hello! Family with three young kids moving from Denver and could use some more local advice. You've all been very helpful in the past with this so thanks in advance!

We've been really interested in Oak Park because of the walkability, community feel, and diversity, but the property taxes and cost of homes have us also looking at Brookfield, La Grange, and parts of Riverside as well.

We're hoping to find a community that's:

• Walkable to some coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
• Family-friendly with kids out playing (bonus if there's a pool either public or private)
• Generally leans liberal
• Has a strong sense of community

For those familiar with these areas, how do they compare? Is there one you'd recommend over the others for a young family? Are there certain areas within these towns you'd suggest we take a look at?

Thanks in advance!

Hello! My family and I are moving to Illinois early next year, and we're planning to move to Oak Park but I'm curious about River Forest. We have one child in grade school and two in daycare. I work remotely and my husband will be commuting to the West Loop.

We're really drawn to Oak Park because of the walkability, diversity, community feel, and things like the block parties and family events. That said, I've expanded my search a bit to start looking at River Forest. Our budget is around $800k and we're hoping to find a house that needs some updating. It seems like there are some homes in River Forest that fit our budget and come with slightly larger lots, which is definitely appealing. We also like the proximity to downtown Forest Park.

We visited both areas and walked around, and River Forest felt noticeably quieter—but it was also incredibly hot and humid that day and we only walked the part near Oak Park, so I'm not sure we got a fair impression.

For those of you who know both communities, what are the biggest pros and cons of each? I like the idea of larger yards in River Forest, and it also seems like parking might be a little easier, which would be nice since we often have family visiting (sometimes overnight). On the other hand, we're really looking for a strong sense of community, lots of kids, walkability, and an active neighborhood where it's easy to meet people. If that means giving up a little yard space for a better overall lifestyle, we're completely okay with that.

Thanks in advance for any insight!