Where to live on the North Shore of Chicago?

Question

Need to be within 10-15 min (no more than 20 min) of Northwestern University. Have two kids, 3 and 18 months, so we want an area with lots of young families and kids. Have been told to look in Wilmette, as New Trier is a good high school and Romona is a good elementary school, but wondered what your opinions are. We prefer new construction. Any thoughts of actual neighborhoods that are really good to live in? Also been told to look around The Glen and areas just south of there in Glenview. Also wondered your thoughts on the schools (specifically New Trier vs. Glenbrook South or other) and elementary schools.

Answer 1

I grew up in northwest Glenview (elementary school district 30) and went to Glenbrook South (GBS). I grew up in the Willows.
Most of the schools in Glenview are fine. The differences between them are rather small. Glenview does have a lower property tax than Wilmette. The new housing in Glenview is very expensive, though. My house, built in the late 1960s, is going for about 600k, and it's only 2200 sq feet on a quarter acre lot. The downtown Glenview area is very nice. Eastern Glenview has some very expensive areas.
GBS is a very good high school. Yes, it's not as reknown as New Trier, but that can be a good thing. We were not as stressed as our colleagues at New Trier. Things are more relaxed. GBS does have a more diverse student body than New Trier. 10% of GBS students are considered poor.
Southern Glenview goes to the Maine high school district, and you would want to avoid that.

Answer 2

yes, new trier is a good school so living in evanston and willmette area is a good choice. there are a lot of family homes and so on, but it is really pricey there. you can also check out skokie right on the border of evanston and willmette, it's a little cheaper and going to either niles west or north is a good school as well. glenbrook south is also a good school and cost of living in glenview is about the same as skokie. they are all very safe neighborhoods and with a lot of families around. but i say evanston and willmette are the best of both worlds by having a slight city-life style with downtown evanston and being right in northwestern's campus. the glen, actually can be very pricey because of the new plaza there, but very nice...and traffic will sucks with the commute from glenview to northwestern. i hoped i kinda sorta helped you out there. so good luck~!

Answer 3

These are all top schools and excellent suburbs. Nothing is wrong with Evanston either. The closer to the lake or the University, the better the neighborhoods. Many professionals live there . Avoid western Evanston. The Evanston beach and park system is tops.

An unmentioned plus for all these suburbs is alternative transportation...METRA, CTA, and PACE may be very helpful to your commute and to a connection to Chgo.