Feedback About Downers Grove

I use to work realestate and my husband and I own buildings in the city. I personally like and hate the city. But I've lived here my whole life and wouldn't live anywhere else. you can't look at property in the present. You need to really look at least 10-20 years ahead. How is the neighborhood gonna be, whats all the new construction gonna bring. The good thing about the city is all the brand new construction going on. All the construction is displacing alot of "people" you dont want as neighbors, whom are moving out to the burbs for cheaper rents and taxes. Now many suburbs are being forced to have public housing, many of the new buidlings which aren't selling are being sectioned 8. Do your homework, research public housing locations and Section 8 rentals in Dupage. Find out if the suburb has an alliance with a lower income areas and busing the kids into your kids school. All that plays a role in time. Melrose Park, Cicero, Riverside..and now Brookfield and Countryside ar having gang issues..these are just some burbs whom were all american communities and within 20 years had a major turn arounds...If your planning to invest long term..I would adivse stay in the city, look to buy in up coming neiborhoods. Our area is pretty mix, but when my kids are grown(10-15yrs) this will be a high end area in Chicago. and there the ones that are gonna enjoy the properties investment. Hope the info helps..good luck

It depends on your most important criteria. My friend LOVES Downers Grove. They have summer concerts, cute downtown, nice neighbors, block parties. She's at the Whittier Elementary School. Though, she just complained about the number of families that send their children to private schools after kindergarten. Take it with a grain of salt. I'm not sure if it's a reflection of the schools or of the financial means of the communuty. Just, something to think about.

We love the western suburbs. There is a TON to do with kids, an easy city commute, and good shopping in the area. We personally went for less house and opted for District 181 schools (Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills).

Good Luck!

I don't live in Downers, but we do have friends there. It's a good community, it would be on my list if I were looking to move from the city. In addition I would consider LaGrange, Western Springs, and Claredon Hills. All follow along the train line and are great family communities. We live in LaGrange, only two blocks from the train. I love it here. The schools are great and our block is full of children that are close in age to ours. We have block parties, in- prompt- to bon fires etc. The children are all outside playing sports, hide and seek games, etc. I feel it is the childhood experience that I want for my kids.
Drive around on the weekend in the areas you are looking, see what is going on, visit the schools etc. In addition, when you find a house you like--drive by it at all different times of the day and don't be afraid to stop a neighbor and ask them how they like living there.
Good luck.

We moved here from out of state and lived near Downers Grove for a while, because that's where my husband works. In general, DuPage County is very wealthy, the towns along the railroad tracks have really cute downtowns, great schools and nice playgrounds. I-88 was developed as a "research and development corridor" so it has lots of big businesses. The nearby Morton Arboretum has an awesome children's playground. On the other hand, DuPage County's politics and religion is very, very conservative, and the soccer moms weren't very friendly, that's just my opinion.