I am currently living in the city and want to move to a suburb prior to my children starting school. I grew up near O'hare and really like Park Ridge. I know they have great schools and the area is lovely. I am not as familiar with other areas and would like to stay somewhat close to the city / O'Hare area as this is where we have family. Any suggestions? If so please resond and let me know why.
Thanks!
We recently moved to Elmhurst and love it. We looked at many suburbs but are happy with our choice. It is a short train ride into the city (and the drive is not too bad), the downtown is lively, the park district is AMAZING, and the housing prices were not too bad. Our neighbors have all been really welcoming to us. It probably would not be too far from your family via I-294. Good luck with your move!
Hey D.....
I'm in a similar situation...my daughter won't be school aged for a couple more years but will be moving to the burbs prior to that time. I grew up in Park Ridge...great place to raise a family. A lot of my friends moved back to raise their families and love it. The schools are great and the location is perfect. Taxes and homes are expensive but if you can afford it...its worth it.
We haven't decided exactly where we're going yet but will be looking more in the Wilmette, Winnetka area. We love living near the lake and don't really want to give that up. The schools are great up North also...I went to highschool in that area and would really like our children to attend Loyola Academy. I'm ok with public grammar school and again the schools up North are really good. Although for what you're looking for...its not that close to O'Hare but is close to the city.
Not sure if I've helped but again...Park Ridge is great and now is the time to buy...you can get a whole lot more for your money.
Good luck!
I grew up near Park Ridge and couldn't agree more. However, Niles is very family-friendly and at a much more affordable price point. Skokie has lots of community benefits and a variety of different neighborhoods to choose from. Friends in Morton Grove love the community and area. I would equate Glenview with Park Ridge on benefits but also on price. Arlington Heights has a ton of things for families. It reminds me of Naperville as it's so family-friendly. Even downtown on a Saturday night was filled with children and strollers. Ultimately, you're looking for parks, park districts, schools, a safe and walkable environment, and a good community vibe.
I grew up in Park Ridge and my parents still live there; I go there every day. Lovely area, great library, good schools. However, taxes are insane and it's so dark we call it Dark Ridge; you'd think for all those taxes they could put up some street lights. I'm also disappointed to say that for the "great schools" they have, they bought a reading program a couple of years ago for the public schools that cost millions of dollars without piloting the program first. Now many of the teachers dont like the program. That doesn't say much. However the schools' scores are still high and I'm sure they'll stay that way. It's a nice community of people with nice community services.
If you're interested in schools, google "school report card" for the schools in the areas in which you're looking. Park Ridge scores high. Neighbouring areas like Niles and Des Plaines don't. Arlington Heights and some parts of Palatine score high. Some parts of Mount Prospect as well. Make sure when you look up the school report cards that you look up the ELEMENTARY schools not high schools because your kid will be in grade school for 8 years and HS for only 4, so for now make sure that at least the grade school is good and you can change HS later if you have to.
Hello D., We live in Chicago near O'Hare, also, and we have a 2 year old and 9 month old. Although we live in the house my father built, and where I grew up, but we are looking for a quality school system for our children. Park Ridge is beautiful, and yes the schools are very good (even Hilary Clinton was educated there!), but we can't afford the homes and the extremely high property tax there - I have friends that are really suffering with the cost of living there. My three brothers and their families moved and educated their kids in Itasca (straight west on Irving Park #19), and they were very satisfied with the schools. We are also seriously considering moving there for our boys.The Metra runs to the loop from Itasca, and it is often an easy 20 minutes from Irving & Cumberland (if you don't have a train at York Road). It is a quiet beautiful community with lots of public perks - an excellent library, a really nice park district, a beautiful nature center...they have ItascaFest in summer, and the one of the largest public fireworks displays in the Chicago area. It is in Dupage county, so they are in the College of Dupage area. Check it out!
