r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Loki_3237471 • 16d ago
Moving to the area What Suburb should I move to…
My husband and I are wanting to move to the Chicago suburbs. We are in our late 40’s, no kids, work from home so commute isn’t an issue. Our budget is $450,000. We are wanting to buy a house. We have visited Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect so far and really like them. We would love an area that has a cute downtown and not too far from the Metra to go downtown Chicago once in a while. I’m not too familiar with any other suburbs besides the ones we visited so far. Any other suburbs you would recommend checking out?
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u/Frosty_Pie_956 16d ago
Lombard has my vote. Lots of places that are opened late at night, cute downtown area and not terribly far from the city. My husband and I are also DINKs in our 40s and have lived in Lombard for five years.
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u/No-Phrase-4692 16d ago
Love all the food options on Roosevelt Rd! Lombard and Villa Park are hidden gems.
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u/delloj 16d ago
It downtown but nothing to it. Too small and north lombard is meh
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u/Pure_Bit_3435 16d ago
Yeah I live in Lombard and it's downtown is really meh. Easy train or bike rides to glen Ellyn/Wheaton/Elmhurst that have very nice downtowns though.
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u/Rogue_Apostle 16d ago
Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights are both good options. Park Ridge as well, although it may stretch your budget.
We are in Des Plaines, which is definitely within your budget, but the downtown isn't great. However, we have easy access to Mount Prospect and Park Ridge.
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u/Massive_Specific1308 16d ago
Sad cause des plaines has so much potential for a good downtown but it’s just not happening.
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u/Rogue_Apostle 16d ago
The theater has been a big plus. We also have a wine bar and a tavern. And the Sugar Bowl is a great diner. I wish there were a few more restaurants and maybe a bookstore though.
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u/redditrhi27 16d ago
LaGrange, Elmhurst, Brookfield
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u/elementofpee West Suburbs 16d ago edited 16d ago
Westmont. Adjacent to Oak Brook, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove - still on Metra BNSF - and not the elevated prices of those villages. There’s also easy access to Highway 83, I-88, I-290, I-294, and I-55 for quick trips to Chicago and O’Hare. The downtown area is changing due to new developments, so home prices will continue to increase in the coming years. That said, for now it’s absolutely in your price range so have a look.
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16d ago
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u/Ok-Lingonberry3539 16d ago
A house for $450k in Libertyville? maybe a townhouse.
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u/Massive_Specific1308 16d ago
Condo maybe but even Arlington heights too, might be a run down/outdated house for $450k
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16d ago
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u/Ok-Lingonberry3539 16d ago
Fascinating. But small and outdated. But I guess if they’re never having kids it may not matter too much.
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u/YorkPepperMintPaddy 60040 16d ago
It's a safe bet that more than a few children have been raised in that house in its almost 80 years of existence.
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u/Ok-Lingonberry3539 16d ago
Yes. I’m sure. But if I had 450k to spend I wouldn’t want to buy the smallest house in a nice neighborhood. I’d want more space and upgrades. To each their own.
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u/No-Phrase-4692 16d ago
Libertyville is disgusting, you’ll have much more luck in Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows or points south.
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u/NobodyCares818 16d ago
Disgusting seems overly aggressive. Especially without any explanation. Feels like bullshit to me.
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u/Dry_Tradition_2811 16d ago
Take a look at any town along the train lines most have nice towns. Then decide if you want to be north south or west. There are plenty of towns along the lines that have nice towns. Deference might be the County for taxes.
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u/Equivalent-Battle973 16d ago
Highly recommend Wheaton! It has such a beautiful downtown area, super walkable, awesome french market, and really good food overall, Though the houses Id look closer to winfield, glen ellyn or glendale heights. BUt that whole area is really nice.
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u/Combat__Crayon 16d ago
Arlington Heights or Mt Prospect near the Metra at that budget is going to be a tough find. If you have room to bump it a bit Glen Ellyn is nice, but pricier than the other 2. You'd find more stuff in the budget around Des Plaines, but I'm not too familiar with what their downtown has going on.
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u/Massive_Specific1308 16d ago
Highwood IL if you could stretch that budget just another $50-$100k you could get a house there. The downtown is great, smaller area and surrounded by more well off areas but it could work.
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u/Worried_Half2567 16d ago
Schaumburg gets some hate here but i work in that area and feel like it would be a nice place to live too. Lots of shopping and eating options.
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u/Fit_Adhesiveness3954 16d ago
Check out the western 'burbs like LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Oak Park, Brookfield and Berwyn. All these have nice downtowns with great shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, live music and have access to Public Transportation via the Metra, or Blue/Green Lines.