Moving to Chicago, $80k, Working near O'Hare, where should I Iive???

Question

Hello,

I am awaiting an offer from a company in Rosemont (next to O'Hare) that I intend to accept. I've been to Chicago three times, but have spent most of my time either near O'Hare or downtown (Loop) so I am largely unfamiliar with other neighborhoods. I expect to have little time to relocate, so I need a crash course!

Here are the parameters: I'm a 26 yr old single male, salary above, love to go to bars/restaurants but HATE commuting to work! Would like to be near the EL. Status is not as big a deal to me as comfort and being financially practical. I expect to drive to work, since the walk to work from the Rosemont blue line stop is a daunting hike through main roads, etc.

I know that Wrigleyville/Lincoln Park etc. is the place to be if you're a young, single professional - but won't I spent half my life in my car back and forth from O'Hare? Is Bucktown/Wicker Park my best bet (on blue line, in between Loop/O'Hare, bars nearby)?

Thanks in advance for your insight!

- J

Answer 1

Follow the Blue Line (O'Hare brach) of the El. It runs along the highway on its way to O'Hare, and the neighborhoods it runs through - Bucktown, Wicker Park, Avondale, Irving Park, and Portgage Park - are all quite nice.

You're right, though, that Bucktown and Wicker Park (around the Damen stop on the Blue Line) is probably your best best if you're a young single professional. Portgage Park and Avondale are very pretty neighborhoods, but they are mostly larger homes, families, and there are less restaurants. Bucktown and Wicker Park essentially cater to singles and have lots of restaurants and bars, and being further west are still close to O'Hare. Get off at the Damen stop and walk north, and you'll see what I mean.

Wrigleyville is terrific, but it's on the Red Line and quite far northeast - one heck of a commute to O'Hare.

Answer 2

You can live pretty much anywhere in Chicago if you work near O'Hare. The CTA train service, for all of it's problems, works pretty well and there are people who live on the far south and west sides who ride the train to work near and at O'Hare. If you want somewhere with reasonable rent, try Edgewater or Andersonville. It's not as overrun with condo buyers (yet) like Lakeview, Wrigleyville, or even Bucktown/Wicker Park and you can still find affordable apts. (a one bedroom starting at around $700). The neighborhood is diverse, with quite a few bars, coffeeshops. And it's easy to get to O'Hare from there (take the Foster Bus west to the Jefferson park stop and then transfer to the blue line and ride it about five stops to O'Hare.). If you move a little further west of Andersonville, you'll be even closer. Not sure what the rents are like in that direction, though, or what the "scene" is like.

Answer 3

Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wrigleyville are great but you'll tire of the commute on the el. Montawana mentioned some low/middle income suburbs. You could afford suburbs, Park Ridge, DesPlaines, and Norwood Park. Edison Park and Jefferson Park are Chgo neighborhoods within a few min commute to Rosemont.

Buy a Rand McNally or Chgo Tribune Street Map...available at book stores, Walgreens or Osco. All neighborhoods and streets are easy to decipher. Get into a car and checkout the ares yourself.

Answer 4

Well being near Ohare living in Lincoln park would drive you crazy with the drive in traffic everyday. And Lincoln park is a very expensive place to live. Try Wood dale. It is about 5 miles west of Ohare. Easy assess to the train. Quite but cool place to live. Houses a little cheaper than downtown and taxes are cheaper. Chicago Lincoln park area rent between 2500-4000.oo a month, to own start at 800,000.00 and up, taxes unreal. Then hassle of finding parking there suicidal... So stay away from there for living. Get a cab on the weekends and enjoy but head for Wood dale to have a peaceful home. Good luck. You will enjoy Chicago and love it if you like very cold and heavy snow for the winter,

Answer 5

Yea. I'd say u've done ur homework quite well. lol. Bucktown and WIcker Park are good choices.

As far as the enjoyment factor.. Chicago is great. Beautiful city But once u get out Chicago, the rest of the area is the most mundane and ugliest place on earth! lol.

I grew up in Seattle, WA and that might have something to do with it, but the land is all flat, barely any trees, no sight of water (xcept Lk Michigan), no hills. It's just so bloody plain. There's no sense of admirable fauna. I did my university there and I couldn't wait to get out of there. Needless to say, I spent majority of my time in strictly Chicago.

Answer 6

I used to live in Wicker Park. There were some nice restaurants nearby, plenty of stuff to do. I liked it quite a bit. And this was 10 years ago and my understanding is that the neighborhood has gotten snazzier since then. (I am aging young professional. Was younger professional at the time.)

Answer 7

i am a 26yr old female. i lived in bucktown when i first moved to the city. it was a great time and there are tons of little neighborhood bars around. plus, it is only a $10 cab ride everywhere. the el is located on western, not far from armitage and it connects to all the other trains. i worked in the gold coast and my roommate worked on the far north side. we both took the train, just different ways. it was a great time. i have since moved to the gold coast, but i would recommend bucktown to anyone.

Answer 8

The Rosemont commute can be tedious. You might consider a rental on Delaware St. west of Rush. Puts you in the center of a great area, close to transportation, the lake etc.

Answer 9

Why do you have to live in the city? The city sucks! There are plenty of towns close to you which have other bars and things to do. Check out towns such as Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Itasca, Palatine, Schaumburg. Living down town isn't all it's hyped up to be. Believe me.

Answer 10

i lived in the franklin park or northlake area not that far from ohare about 15 min drive and that is counting traffic and they werent bad neighborhoods another area is schiller park or bensenville or elk grove those are pretty decent areas and right there by ohare or you could just live in rosemont it is right there but i have heard that rosemont is a bit pricey but thats up to you. good luck hope that helps