r/ChicagoSuburbs

We bought in Lombard and are on a busier road with no neighbor kids within a block any direction. We have 2 kids under 5 and really want to live in a closer community where they can run out and play with neighbor friends. This house is not our forever home so moving is inevitable in the next 5 years. For those that found this, how did you search? Are there some towns where this is a lot more prevalent? We’re ok with going anywhere in the west burbs, just not further west than Lombard (or any longer commute to the city).

Hi all,

We are currently living on the East Coast in DC and have the opportunity to relocate to a few different areas with work hubs for us. We keep coming back to Chicago for some key reasons (they're not relevant, so won't list them, but just know Chicago is top contender and we've been very thorough in our search over the last year).

We’ve settled on the North Shore suburbs (Wilmette, Evanston, Highland Park) because we want something quieter than our current city life, the school districts have a good reputation overall, and we can afford a nice house there. We also want to stay close to the lake--that's a total non-negotiable for us in considering Chicago at all. We’ve visited multiple times, have an agent, and know the market, but a few specific questions still come to mind:

1. How bad is the winter weather, really? Our friends who live there say people make it scarier than it is and the extremely frigid/unbearable days are few and far between as the years go on. The coldest places we've lived are Denver, the Boston area, and Germany/Austria, so we're used to winter. But are the other seasons like Spring and Fall, typical and enjoyable, or are those an extension of winter?

2. Wilmette / New Trier HS culture: Specifically looking at Wilmette, I keep reading terrible things about New Trier High School online--bullying, pressure-cooker academics, etc. We want the best for our kids, but we want them to be happy versus feeling like they have to succeed in every way imaginable to be a successful adult. I know Reddit tends to be a breeding ground for negativity, but does anyone have good things to say about their experience there?

We are also concerned with the "Keeping Up with the Joneses" vibe in Wilmette or HP. We can def afford the area, but we live modestly, prefer a smaller home, buy used items, and will definitely not be getting our kids Porsches for their birthdays. We’ve both lived and grew up in Europe where a modest lifestyle is more common. Currently in DC, the wealthy families make a lot of noise, but the area is so big it's easy to get away from that if you want to. What can we expect on the North Shore? Also, is there any international diversity in these areas, or is it pretty much just Americans? (I am specifically talking Wilmette and Highland Park here, I know Northwestern probably helps in that regard for Evanston).

3. Community fit: I keep hearing about the large Jewish population on the North Shore, especially in Highland Park. For context, my husband was raised Catholic turned atheist, I grew up non-religious, we are raising our kids how to think, not what to, trying to give them the room to experience the world, ask questions, and form their own beliefs as they grow and develop. We are inclusive and respectful, but we tend to form close friendships with those without religious backings due to fundamental differences in belief systems, lifestyle, etc. (In the same way people gravitate toward friends with similar political or parenting views).

For secular or non-Jewish families in these towns, is being non-religious going to be a problem? What has your experience been?

***I am strictly looking for respectful, practical insight into the social dynamics and community integration. I am not interested in a debate on religion in the comments**

Thanks in advance for any insights!

TLDR: Single F 46, Dog, WFH mostly, Greenery, ~45 min max drive to DT (non rush hour), Quiet (ie concerned about flight path from ORD), $3k - $4k, schools don’t matter, live music or yoga bonus points in cute DT.

Rental budget is around $3k - $4k, want to rent for a year and then look into buying. I’ve been having a really difficult time finding any SFH or townhome in that range. Hoping this sub can help with ideas.

Background:
I spent my 20s and 30s there (mostly in Wicker Park / Ukrainian Village) before living on the West coast the last few years (currently outside of Denver). . I just don’t think I can do the city anymore - the noise, parking, etc. I have friends in Highland park, Elmhurst, Lake Zurich, and West town.

I’ve got a pup and really want a yard of some sort - either a townhouse or house. I love to hike in Denver so it would be great to be near forest preserves, but I don’t require walkability to them.

Love live music, so would be great to be close to places that have live music. Would also like a ~45 min or less drive back from downtown after a concert. Would be open to the train if it’s easy, but will likely drive or uber after a show.

Given I’m child free, schools don’t matter to me really. Would love a cute downtown or way to build local community, bonus points for a yoga studio.

I’ve had my eye on Edgebrook, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Niles, Mt Prospect, and Skokie - but not sure about the flight path. Evanston feels to far east (hard to get to highways / DT).

Would not be keeping up with the Joneses - more hippie vibes.

TIA!!

UPDATE: I just want to say thank you. I am overwhelmed by the response, which is further fueling my decision to move. While Denver winters are amazing (that sun makes a difference), the Chicago people are just something else. Thank you all for being so kind.

Hi reddit, I live in Arlington Heights with my wife and three young children (11, 9, and 7). I am looking for opportunities to volunteer our time and energy to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Something like a soup kitchen, or food pantry. Ideally an opportunity for my children to interact with people outside of their suburban bubble and give back to the community that has been so good to us.

We're not religious or church-going folk, but I am not opposed to helping out at a church.

Any suggestions?

Anybody going? Should I even bother the mayor is a republicunt and we all know he's being bought out.

I work in IT and made about $39 an hour at my previous job in California. It seems the same job here is around $21-$30. I was offered a job that pays $26 which would be a 33% reduction in what I was making.

I’m definitely not expecting the same pay here, but does that seem about normal moving from a HCOL to LCOL area, and is this a sustainable and comfortable salary for a single guy?

I've been trying to expand my coffee palate, and on a few occasions I've ordered an espresso shot and it is just bitter and undrinkable.

Now it is VERY possible these were expertly pulled espresso shots and I just don't have the palate for it.

That said, does anyone who knows coffee have a GREAT espresso recommendation in the western burbs? Coffee in general?

Just glancing at a map, it seems like the near west suburbs have this odd cluster going on of names that have a couple similar words repeated in multiple townships. It makes the area a little confusing to navigate off of memory sometimes when I'm driving through.

• Oak Park
• Melrose Park
• Stone Park
• Franklin Park
• Elmwood Park
• Schiller Park
• La Grange Park
• Park Ridge
• Forest Park
• Forest View
• River Forest
• River Grove
• Riverside

I think the "River" and "Forest" ones maybe make a little more sense. I'm assuming they were just named for being in proximity to the Des Plaines River or just a general forest. The "Park" ones are a little more confusing, though. Were a lot of these places just built around old Illinois parks or something and the townships adopted the names?

Looked on Twitter and here. Any reports of a natural gas leak in the area? I just drove past South on 294 and it was a very strong odor. Possibly from the freight yard over there?

On April I visited Duly Health and Care in Lombard, IL and met Dr. Mary Francine Chua, and this was honestly one of the most ridiculous and frustrating medical experiences I have ever had.

In January, I visited Dr. Sarah Colomb. The appointment was around 20 minutes, the doctor actually gave me medicine, ordered labs, discussed treatment, and did real medical work. The bill was $184. Fine.

But in April, during my LAST visit, the doctor basically did almost nothing. The visit was not longer than 20 minutes, no real treatment, no labs, nothing special, and somehow I got charged $250. For what exactly???

When I called to ask why the price was HIGHER than my previous visit where they actually did more work, nobody could explain anything. The billing guy just kept repeating the word “research.” RESEARCH FOR WHAT? My treatment was already finished. What research is happening after treatment is done? Why am I being charged for some vague “research” nobody can explain?

And the communication was absolutely terrible. I called multiple times and sent around 10 messages trying to get a real answer. Every single time I only reached the billing department. They kept telling me to “contact the provider.” HOW am I supposed to contact the provider when nobody gives me the information or transfers me to the right person? I am a patient, not an employee inside their system.

It would have taken them 2 minutes to contact the provider themselves or transfer my call, but instead they kept pushing me around in circles like nobody cared.

Honestly, the whole thing felt shady and disrespectful. I seriously felt like because I am a foreigner, they thought I would just accept the charge and stay quiet because I do not know how the system works.

Completely unacceptable experience. Avoid this place if you do not want surprise bills and zero explanation.

I am not looking for a tutor as I already have one, but I was wondering if there were any groups/clubs/get togethers for people wanting to get more practice learning and speaking Spanish as a second language. I assume there is a community of learners especially being surrounded by so many cities with large Spanish speaking populations.

I have heard of and seen stuff like this in other cities in the country where people will meet maybe every week or so at a bar or coffee shop and just talk and practice. And I assume something similar must exist somewhere in or nearby the city.

Any info would be much appreciated!

Hello!

Wanted any insight for the Thornwood neighborhood in South Elgin. We’re looking to purchase a home there.

We looked at Batavia, Geneva, and St Charles but the homes are nicer in South Elgin for our price range.

We’re an early/mid 30’s married couple
Currently pregnant with our first
Budget is around $700k (but ideally $650k)

So many post are appearing of “what do I do” after finding baby birds, squirrels or bunnies.

Leave them ALONE! Period

I know before my education I thought I was saving all these animals too, I wasn’t.

Find a bird, look for a nest in the area. If you see no nest place the bird near the trunk of a tree and just keep an eye out for predators. You can absolutely make a makeshift nest out of cardboard and paper and also place it on a branch securely on a tree in the vicinity you found the bird.

Found a bunny, find a small nest or leave it exactly where you found it unless it has marks from a predator.

Found a squirrel, LEAVE IT EXACTLY where it was. You can search for a nest and put it in the nest, if no nest is found, LEAVE IT. (Unless there is a risk of predators). Then call your local county animal rehabilitation.

I know as humans we want to do everything we can to save animals but we often times get too involved which ends up causing the death of these babies.

Unless these babies are victims of an attack from a predator, leave them.

Hello! I’m looking for a couples photographer for me and my boyfriend. If anyone knows anybody in these areas or at least someone who would be willing to travel that would be really helpful! Thank you!

I accepted a job in D96 for the next school year, and while my partner and I hope to buy a home before then, renting is our backup plan. I've lived in the city for 25 years, so I'm not familiar with the rental companies out here. If you have any experience to share I'd appreciate it!

Looking for good food and coffee recommendations in Highland Park. I’ve tried out a couple of restaurants and coffee shops in the area and no shade to any business but honestly everything is so overpriced for mid tasting food there.

Please let me know if there’s any hidden gems!

Hi guys,
I‘m a 23 year old from middle Europe visiting Elgin in next week. Since here seem to be a lot locals I thought I could get some nice infos about the area as i dont know any of it (neither been to the States before). I have a free weekend to and a rental car so maybe you could recommend any sights, events or share experiences?

Also love I‘d love to hear some local insider infos!

Edit: Im staying in Elgin / West Dundee due to work purposes. Im working through the days but have the first June weekend free.