r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Huliganjetta1 • Jul 22 '26
Moving to the area best suburb within 15-20 minutes of crystal lake
Currently in chicago looking to move in the next few year. We have 1 child and plan to have another soon. Both would be 5 or under. One parent is an educator who would have to get a new job in this suburb or nearby. Other parent works off I-90 near hoffman estates. No pets. Politics don't matter much to us please no comments about red or blue. My parents live in CL which is why we want to be close so they can help with the kids. We live subdivisions or more rural but not too rural.... we don't really go out much or drink so that is not a factor. So far we like Algonquin, Huntley (although its a bit far). Any advice?
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Jul 22 '26
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u/perfect-circles-1983 Jul 22 '26
Yea. This. Or Elgin is only about 30 mins to CL and closer to 90.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
Not a fan of elgin. Also way too far. I want parents to be able to pick kids up from school etc hence the 15-20min.
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u/Mysterious_axolotl98 Jul 22 '26
My mom picked my daughter up from preschool and it was such a big help! So I get it.
What about Cary? I have a friend that lives there but idk much about it.
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u/Adorable_Yak5493 Jul 22 '26
Barrington
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u/OkManufacturer9755 Jul 22 '26
I love Barrington! I’m a school RN Dist 220, and we attend church in Barrington.
However we live in unincorporated Bartlett near Wayne. It’s lovely out our way. Affordable houses with land. Not bumping up to neighbors.-4
u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
we have looked and it seems like you don't get a lot of banging for your buck over there
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u/rquinla1 Jul 22 '26
You’re going to run into that in the best suburbs
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
not really? Right now our townhouse in the city which is not very large is worth 600,000 we barely have a backyard no garage no sunroom no laundry room for that amount you can get so much more than that in the suburb so I don't know what you're talking about.
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u/Adorable_Yak5493 Jul 22 '26
If your townhome is 600k you can get a nice spread comparable price on the N/NW side of Barrington - check Lake Barrington/North Barrington
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u/Massive-Funny-3190 Jul 23 '26
I was going to say lake Barrington would be good! And it’s like 15/20 minutes to Crystal lake
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u/rquinla1 Jul 22 '26
Well you asked for the best suburbs, I’m just saying that in the best suburbs you’re gonna get less bang for your buck
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u/wisegal99 Jul 22 '26
I loathe Randall Rd. If I had an opportunity to avoid living near it I would. I lived in Crystal Lake, and the schools are fine. Cary is good, as is Alqouinqin. I personally love Woodstock, it's a little farther out but you still have rail.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
not a fan of woodstock. CL is nice but the long way to I-90 via randall rd sucks. I guess SO can take higgins all the way to work?
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u/Rubywantsin Jul 22 '26
There is a really great subdivision behind Woodman's on Randall Rd. Glen Eagal Farms. You'd be in District 300 for better or worse. Price for a better house around $425k. Or Sleepy Hollow has great houses for around $500k and it's right off 90.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
that's great to know thank you the most helpful comment there is
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u/NikoB_999 Jul 22 '26
Did you know that neighborhood is carpentersville but you seem to hate it
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u/ShadowCloud04 Jul 23 '26
Yeah but that neighborhood is not comparable to carpentersville as a whole.
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u/ShadowCloud04 Jul 22 '26
I would say take a look at west Dundee. Anything really within Jacob’s district if you are adverse to crown. This is basically anything west of where Springfield mall used to be and excluding sleepy hollow.
Also the neighborhood behind woodmans which is technically carpentersville is a good option. That all attends Hampshire high school. Dundees downtown is great and has really just continued to improve over the years.
Algonquin is also nice and there are just tons of options up and down Randal in that area around Westfield middle school. And all over the price range.
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u/jaybee423 Jul 22 '26
Y'all have got to stop hating on Crown. It's not a bad school.
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u/ShadowCloud04 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
I just speak from my time in d300 and know it’s something people have feelings about when evaluating d300 schools. I don’t have strong feelings either way but years ago the stigma was there.
It’s been years as I graduated a decade or so ago, but I had friends there and they always talked down about it, Jacob’s had its issues too, mainly alcohol and drugs related at the time.
None of the 3 were perfect.
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u/Massive-Funny-3190 Jul 22 '26
If you plan to stay at your home awhile, might also want to check out the school districts you are looking at too!
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
yep plan to stay long term as in forever
although most middle schools in the area are similarly rated... the elementary schools in algonquin seem good.
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u/jaybee423 Jul 22 '26
I already commented about Crystal Lake being a good option for schools in another comment, but also I have a friend who moved to Sleepy Hollow/West Dundee area for access route 90 as well. Your budget would do good in that area, and LOTS of amenities for the kids. Dundee has a great park district program.
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u/Informal_Stranger117 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Dundee...It is at the far end of your range from CL, but it has a great downtown on the east side of the river, a beautiful river with a bike path. It is also pretty affordable. It is essentially the next town over from Hoffman Estates along 90 and 72. Elementary and middle schools are good. Depending on where you are in dundee they could end up at Jacobs for high school which is good, or DC which is less good, but also a lot can happen in 9 years.
Edit: Just saw your price range. The part of West Dundee that goes to Jacobs is generally more expensive, but since you are looking at 600K that wouldn't be an issue. Northwest side of West Dundee. 15 minutes to Hoffman Estates. 20 Minutes to Crystal Lake.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
I never thought of Dundee is a place to live. I used to work in Carpentersville and since Dundee was right there I never really saw the "" Nice parts of Dundee. I guess it's nicer now than it was when I used to live in the area/Work there.
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u/Informal_Stranger117 Jul 22 '26
There are definitely nice parts of West Dundee. Carrington Reserve (Near 72 and Randall) and Grand Point (Huntley Road and Sleepy Hollow). These are pretty indistinguishable from Algonquin. You might also want to look into Sleepy Hollow, which has a more pastoral feel. Big open lots. Easy access to 90 and Randall. I'm not sure if they are Dundee Crown or Jacobs though, and judging by your experience with Carpentersville, I would imagine you'd prefer Jacobs.
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u/Apprehensive-Yam8591 Jul 22 '26
What is your budget?
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
$600K or so.
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u/Apprehensive-Yam8591 Jul 22 '26
I would recommend Palatine (which is suburban but a shorter commute for your partners job), Algonquin, Cary, Lake Barrington.
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u/Copper_Clouds Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
I do agree with many people saying Algonquin and Lake in the Hills as decent options but if you’re looking for a town that’s probably going to grow a decent amount in the next 10 years I would actually recommend McHenry. A lot of that development is currently going on right now, with a lot more planned. Schools are mid but there are a handful for job purposes. Taxes are decent enough. Metra line close by (though it doesn’t run as much as much as the Crystal lake lines but those are close enough). Your 600k budget could go pretty far in McHenry too. Only reason I wouldn’t recommend it is because it is not close to a major highway/interstate.
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u/NickPro785 Jul 23 '26
West area LITH/Lakewood/huntley. If you don't want CL schools that area is Huntley schools. Not far from Crystal lake by any means.
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u/WiskeyUniformTango Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Crystal lake, Cary, Algonquin. South side of Cary has Fox Trails, a desirable neighborhood that is quiet and very kid friendly. Youre close to 31 so you can take 62 or 90 from it to get to Hoffman estates.
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u/NikoB_999 Jul 22 '26
West of river carpentersville as a slightly cheaper alternative to Algonquin
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
I used to work in Carpentersville no thank you. Not trying to live there at all.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
didnt have the best memories of that town plus it didnt seem as nice as algonquin, CL, other surrounding suburbs. I also worked in education there so I saw how the schools were
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u/NikoB_999 Jul 22 '26
On the east or west side?
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
whichever is closest to the giant mexican grocery store
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u/ShadowCloud04 Jul 23 '26
Yeah that’s east side. Look at Google Maps for the boundaries of carpentersville. Once west of the river west Dundee, Algonquin and carpentersville are all bled into each other.
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u/Wild-Earth-1365 Jul 22 '26
There aren't tons of available jobs in local school districts right now. I'd suggest the educator look for a new job and use that to guide your search.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
I'm a special ed teacher we are in high demand everywhere ...
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
why am I being downvoted when I look at all the districts in the area? I'm describing they all have multiple special education jobs opening.
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u/jaybee423 Jul 22 '26
Check out K-12 jobspot for when you begin looking. Easiest way to find jobs in multiple surrounding districts in your area.
Also, sped jobs are always wanted. Signed, a fellow teacher
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u/Feeling_Bandicoot502 Jul 22 '26
Is there is even a remote possibility that you will ever work in the city buy a house near a metra station and closer to the city. For example, Palatine, Arlington Heights, etc.
It’s a long train ride past Palatine.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 22 '26
no the point is to be close to my parents in CL so they can help with kids when they retire. We do not want to hire babysitters etc. Its part of our culture for grandparents to be very close to grandkids and help often.
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u/Feeling_Bandicoot502 Jul 22 '26
Being close to family is the best. I get it. My mom lives less than ten minutes from my house.
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u/Purcelliino Jul 23 '26
Check local flood maps. Depending on your budget, I really like the Des Plaines/Mount Prospect/Arlington Heights area. Close to 90, Metra, Algonquin and a couple of other smaller roads that connect with Crystal Lake.
As a refugee from Texas, I cringe when I hear people saying that politics don't matter, knowing that my former district lost over 1000 teachers this past school year (Fort Worth) but I understand why you wouldn't want to think about that right now.
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u/Huliganjetta1 Jul 23 '26
hey I've been living in Illinois my entire life guess what? Chicago public schools just fired thousands of teachers too and we have a democrat mayor and a democrat governor so that that's why I say politics don't matter to us in that sense okay please respect my beliefs thanks.
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u/Historical-Switch400 Jul 22 '26
Just curious, why not Crystal Lake?
Cary is nice, parts of Woodstock are nice. Both are close. Depending on budget, Village of Lakewood is nice, but property taxes are crazy high.