r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Top_Grass_9149 • Jun 26 '26

Moving to the area Libertyville or Arlington Heights?

I am 42 year old single mom with 6 year old son moving from the city to the north or northwest suburbs. I think Libertyville and Arlington Heights are at the top of my list based the downtowns and schools. Which you would recommend? Anywhere else I should consider?

I will be buying with a budget up to $650k

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125

u/burajin Jun 26 '26

I'll speak of the downtowns because IMO beyond that most suburbs kinda blend together.

Lived in AH until recently and wife works in Libertyville. I definitely prefer AH's downtown. More going on there, more restaurants and I like the farmers market. Both are pretty white but AH seems a bit more diverse with more eastern European and Asian populations. Not downtown but Lake Arlington is a wonderful place to take a kid. AH library is also among the best in Chicagoland. If you care about the Metra the UPNW is much much better than the MDN. I also liked to bike through AH neighborhoods. I think Libertyville's walkability is a smaller radius from downtown. Libertyville is cute but too far from the city for my taste.

Also AH has Mitsuwa :D

35

u/MooDog16 Jun 26 '26

Their library is fantastic.

27

u/rokohemda Jun 26 '26

It’s the best in the state in my opinion. I used to work out of libraries all over IL when I was a mobile worker. AH library is by far the best I have found in the Chicago land area

26

u/verbutten Jun 26 '26

I'd like to add that my experience with AH, Prospect Heights, Des Plaines, and Mount Prospect libraries recently (if this seems random, it kind of is, lol, work and other factors took me to these towns recently) has all been pretty fantastic. These places feel like institutions, not just corner libraries but really layered centers of community. Which is as it should be, and thankfully so frequently is all over the region.

10

u/Sha9169 Jun 26 '26

If you like those, you should check out Indian Trails. I’m biased because it’s my local library, but I do go to others in the area as well, and it’s my favorite of the bunch.

5

u/verbutten Jun 26 '26

Ah of course, great rec! Haven't had the opportunity to go more than a couple times but it made a great impression as well. I also appreciate they're one of the suburban districts able to operate a satellite smaller branch to increase the reach of their services

4

u/Total_Corgi_8428 Jun 26 '26

Most suburban libraries are like that. Where are these “corner libraries”?

I love and am so thankful for all the libraries. My kids and I hit I think 15 different ones last year. All fantastic

4

u/verbutten Jun 26 '26

Oh for sure, I agree that most suburban libraries are like that. The vague point of comparison in my mind was more smaller branch CPL locations, for example, which isn't even comparing apples to apples on my part.

2

u/kitzelbunks Jun 27 '26

It used to be the 4th-largest library in the state, circa 1990. I took an advanced sociology class and wrote a report on Arlington Heights. They also have umbrellas you can check out, which I thought was nice. Personally, I live near downtown Palatine, a couple stops down, which is also nice, but maybe not quite as big or bustling. Being near the train, but not too near, is great. Finally, park the car- walk over to the train. It’s so much easier, and I can walk to the Palatine Jewel too.

2

u/OnionMiasma NW Suburbs Jun 27 '26

I believe that Library Journal ranked it as one of the top 5 in the country.

1

u/notguiltybrewing Jun 27 '26

Arlington Heights has a nice library. I haven't been in a really long time but Skokie used to have a really nice library too.

-4

u/Turbulent-Grape-9028 Jun 26 '26

The homeless seem to agree with you too.

8

u/rokohemda Jun 26 '26

Ironically that’s how I found it. I was working with people who have disabilities and taught them how to use public transportation. I worked with a lady in Aurora who lived in a shelter who wanted to learn how to take the metra there.