Moving to Chicago, looking for safe neighborhood. Btw Ohare & downtown.?

Question

I would be moving to chicago due to the fact that ill be based there and would be flying out of Ohare all the time. My wife would be working in downtown in the finacial district. Were looking for somewhere in the suburbs where I can travel to Ohare without any hassel. Were looking for a nice and safe neighborhood. She would be home byherself once in a while. Also we might not have a car. At first we were looking near downtown towards the north ex. Lincoln Park, Sheridon Rd ect. but its kind of far to Ohare. Ive only been to chicago 5 times and been to the loop once. the rest was at the airport or at the office. thanks We currently live in Long Island, New York. So we were looking for something similar.

Answer 1

I live in Norwood Park and I recommend my neighborhood or Edison Park immediately to the west. (on the Park Ridge / Niles border). We have by far the lowest crime rate in the city. Renting and condos are reasonable but houses are more expensive than other areas. Then again, you will get a much bigger house and lot than you will in yuppie areas like Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville.

There are nice suburbs like Park Ridge and less expensive places like Niles, Mount Prospect, etc. that are also close to O'hare, safe and reasonably priced.

There are a few very good grammar schools (Grades 1-8) in Norwood / Edison Park but the public high school (Taft) is not very good. I would suggest the suburbs for better schools (Park Ridge has excellent schools, Niles has an excellent high school).

The Blue Line is also located in Norwood / Edison Park (Harlem & Cumberland stops) so you will be able to reach O'Hare in 15 - 20 minutes from these two stops (since you said you may not have a car). Cab fare will not be expensive either as you are within a few miles of the airport. There are Metra stops as well - it is a nicer train system - for trips downtown (kids ride free on weekends / parents for $5 total for unlimited rides).

Answer 2

I would look all along the blue line-- it's going to be a straight shot out to O'Hare on the blue line (it's around an hour from downtown) and also easy access to downtown for you wife. You said suburbs, but since you also said you were looking in Lincoln Park, so I assumed you were open to the city too? I know nothing about the suburbs, so this answer won't give you any help there.

If you want a more upscale neighborhood a little like Lincoln Park, try Wicker Park... it used to be sort of counter culture-y but has moved into a more yuppie population in the last few years, if that appeals to you. That is the Damen stop on the blue line. Any further Northwest and the nieghborhoods are going to get less nice (not bad, but not upscale). This is where I live. In general, they're not dangerous, but they're not really *trendy* either, or at least not the type of trendy I suspect you'd like from the question. A lot of students looking for cheap housing, lots of mexican immigrants, lots of working class families etc.

Hope this helped you, I made a lot of assumptions about the type of area you wanted, sorry if I was way off track!

Answer 3

It's a little confusing what you're asking here, because between O'Hare and the financial district is all the city of Chicago - in other words, there isn't a suburb in between.

So, if you're looking in the city of Chicago - which seems to be what you're implying - you want to stay along the Blue Line of the L, which goes to both O'Hare and downtown. If that's the case, right in between is the very nice neighborhood of Wicker Park / Bucktown, around the Damen stop on the Blue Line. Lots of single family condos and homes in the area, great restaurants and shops, and very safe.

If you're truly looking at the suburbs, you might consider Lincolnwood, LaGrange, or Oak Park - those are in between O'Hare and downtown, sort of. But you'd need a car in most of those places, with the exception of Oak Park. I'd really recommend looking at Wicker Park and Bucktown.

Answer 4

Are you against living in Chicago proper?

I recommend the Portage Park and Jefferson Park neighborhoods in Chicago. They are on the far Northwest Side, right on the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line. You could well do without a car in these areas, but neither neighborhood is so cramped that it would be a hassle to have one. These are quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods, great for raising a family. It would be convenient for you, because you could just walk to the Blue Line and get to O'Hare without trouble. Your wife would have a slightly longer commute downtown, but she would also have a straightforwad commute via the Blue Line.

I do not recommend living in suburbia sans car.

Answer 5

I can relate. My boss lives in NJ and comes to our office in Chicago every week. I would say you might as well live in the loop, anywhere near the blue line if she is already downtown. If you go for in between OHare and the loop there is very little on the blue line and you might as well suck it up and live down there, for a pretty downtown life.

If you are determined for semi-suburaban life, then Rosemont would put you near both....Cumberland El-Stop means suburbs, 10 minutes to the airport and 40 minutes to downdown.

The blue line is your god on this move...stay close and you'll stay convenient.....although their are several areas in between I would want to live in for fun or safety.....none are trenton, but are something to consider.

Answer 6

Des Plaines is a great city to go to if you wanna to be near Ohare.

Answer 7

LaGrange is a straight shot to the airport and has a lomo service also a train to downtown in 18 min

Answer 8

Rolling Meadows

Answer 9

Your situations seem confusing regarding a car. I would look for housing close to the blue line of the CTA. That would give both of you cheap access to your workplaces.

Answer 10

there are no guarantees anyplace on the planet any longer. good luck and happy hunting here.