Are you raising a family in Chicago IL or Chicago suburb?

Question

I currently live in Chicago IL near Portage park. I have 3 boys 10,6 &4.

My husband and I are soon to be first time home owners we have already been pre-approve have a down payment and are very excited!

We have always love the city and enjoy living in Chicago, we originally thought we would buy a house in Plainfield IL (I have family out the)

but we notice prices coming down so we were considering looking around Hanover Park / Bartlett. But are Realtor told us we could find some good deals around Elmwood Park or even Jefferson Park IL, we were very happy. we want to stay around 230K it's are ideal to stay that low we were approve for up to 260k.

(we really never wanted to move as far as Plainfield)

So we told are family that we were planing on staying in Chicago and they went crazy telling us that we should leave the city that we are crazy for wanting to raise are kids here.

what's your opinion would you raise kids in Chicago or move out of the city? Where do you live? Do you have kids if so how old are they?

Answer 1

We used to live in the city (near Keeler and Addison) until our daughter was almost 4. Since we didn't have enough money to send our daughter to a private school, we decided to move to the suburbs. We really loved living in the city didn't know how well we'd like the suburbs after being city folk for over a decade. But, it turned out to be a great move!

We moved north to Grayslake and we absolutely love the town and the community. The house prices are really good. The taxes are considered a bit high though. I hear so many people here talk about how great the schools, taxes and housing is in Libertyville. We hadn't even looked in Libertyville, and I wish we had. If north is at all an option for you, definitely consider looking around Libertyville and Grayslake. I'd steer clear of Round Lake and Gurnee.

Lots of stuff to do up here for former city dwellers, and we occasionally pop on Metra for a city adventure. Congrats on your pre-approval and good luck! It's a great time to buy that's for sure!

Our daughter is 5 now. I am glad we moved, the area we lived in Chicago was super nice when we first got it but the local public high school (Schurz High School) which was very close seemed to be getting more violent every year. On many occasions we actually saw fist fights break out right on our front lawn and also had to call the police because of drug dealers sitting in cars right in front of our house. I would love to raise my kid in Chicago as long as the neighborhood was safe and we had the opportunity to have a very good school to send her to. I really miss the free museum passes from the Chicago Public Library, they were great. And I miss the wonderful diversity in the city. But for us it really came down to safety and schools.

Answer 2

I left Chicago to give the kids a better life. And now I would do anything to get back. How about moving to a different suburb? I just did a yahoo search and found tons of houses. Even one in Batavia and another in Oak Forest.  

Answer 3

I am 17, and I currently reside(with my family) in Hanover Park. I was raised in Chicago. For 12 years I lived in the Jefferson Park area(Montrose/Milwalkee). and for about 2 and a half years in the Portage Park area(Central and Irving Park). I've also spent alot of time in Elmwood Park (My aunt lives there).

As a child who is still being raised by her parents, in both the suburbs, and inner city, I am going to tell you how it was growing up, and the extreme differences.

In the city, there is alot more to be exposed to. At Wilson Park, and Jefferson Park, my brothers and I have encountered many gangs, and other not-so-nice people. My brother had his bike stolen, and my other brother has been jumped in an alley near Taft High School. But there are also good things about growing up in the city. Public transportation, and school choices. It was so easy to get around as a kid, as long as I had money. Also, you can choose which school your child goes to, and they can pick any high school they want to apply to. Plus, since your kids are younger... theres alot more parks and playground in the city.

In the suburbs, you have to drive or walk everywhere. There is no public transportation, and if there is, its rare. Also, the schools which your children will goto will be depended upon by where you live, and which district you are in. My mom wanted me to goto a high school called Conant, but becasue we lived just out of the district, I was forced to goto Schaumburg High. Its the same way with elementary and junior high. Theres gangs in the suburbs, and alot of kids who think they are "gansta", but they don't terrorize the neighborhoods as much as the inner city gangs do. Also, the drugs in the suburbs are more apparent and easier to get.  Probably because it doesn't take long for word to get around about who does what, and who sells it. But it is very hard to be in high school and try to have friends who don't do drugs. Drinking is also a major issue with teens here. They drink after school functions and on the weekends. But another good thing about the suburbs is that its alot more secure and safe. Police are called for mostly everything. Including the most ridiculous events. And theres alot less burlary. I know of plenty of people who don't lock their doors. Also, the schools are great here, and the teachers are amazing. They get to know the kids, and most make the classes fun and exciting. Although, like any other school, some teachers aren't the best, most are good teachers. And I saw in an Oprah show, they compared inner city schools with suburban schools and found that the academics and overall condition of the suburban schools were much better than the inner city schools.

My opinion would be that elmwood park would be a great choice. Its right at the edge of the city, so you would still have public transportation(and kids can use it once they're old enough), and all the aspects of the city life. But you would also have the aspects of suburban life. I dont know much about the elementary schools, but I know Elmwood Park High School is an amazing school. and Elmowood pakr has town festivities(Like on the 4 of July and such)

Either way though, I think the way you raise your children matters more than where you raise your children. As long as you instill great values and moral into them, no matter where you choose to live, your kids will be fine.

-Stephanie

Answer 4

I have to agree with the other response. We moved to the suburbs because of the schools. I don't regret it one second. I do miss being able to just run out and grab some awesome food though LOL!  

Answer 5

My family lives in Chicago in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I have three children who are 1, 6, and 8. We love living in the city and trust me we hear it from our family too. There is so much to do in the city and everything is so convenient. We have to sacrifice on living space, but the amenities of the city more than make up for it. Plus living in a smaller space makes more sense to me than heating and cooling some huge empty house.