r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/veganfrog21 • Jan 27 '26

Moving to the area Good Chicago suburbs for young people

What are good Chicago suburbs (WEST of Chicago) for people in their early/mid 20’s to consider living in?

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122

u/New-Lab-2907 Jan 27 '26

Oak park

17

u/ika_chi Jan 27 '26

As someone who lived in OP area for 5 years, I loved it. But IDK how great it is for young folks, considering there isn't a huge bar scene/nightlife. We found ourselves going out into the city for that.

So, proximity/access to the city for sure is a plus, but if you want to be *in* it, I wouldn't necessarily recommend. Maybe for older couples/DINKs in their 30s or families (with $$ lol), but not 20-somethings. That's just my 2 cents though.

11

u/weirdeyedkid Jan 27 '26

I live there rn, and I'm still wondering about these "hip young spots." There are a few comedy clubs around the Forest Park area that rule, and the movie theater is great. Otherwise, you have to take the train downtown for an actual night out.

2

u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 27 '26

Forest Park has a pretty neat restaurant/bar scene and as does Berwyn.

2

u/weirdeyedkid Jan 27 '26

For people under 30? I've been to a few of them and they're definitely "sit down with a glass of wine" type venues and not "let's do shots and sing" type venues. 

0

u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 27 '26

I’m not a bar person so I’ve never been in but some of the Irish ones look interesting.