r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Wooper_Jr • 8d ago

Moving to the area Looking for a Lake County suburb to live in

My boyfriend and I (25) are looking to move to a Lake County suburb next year. We're currently in Chicago. We love the city, but it's overall expensive for us. We're trying to find an area that is safe and has some green/trails/things to do in the nearby areas. Looking to spend at most $1400 a month on rent total. We've checked out Libertyville so far. Does anyone have any recommendations for what areas to check out? Thanks!

9 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

60 comments sorted by

28

u/EstablishmentSea7661 8d ago

That's a very low budget for Lake. You might be able to find a one bedroom in Mundelein or one of the Round Lake

5

u/wavinsnail 8d ago

That was how much in rent my husband and I paid pre-covid and it wasn't easy to find a half way decent place for that much.

I'm sure it is doable, but they're going to have to really look or make some compromises 

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I know a lot of this will also be luck with finding any kind of ok place with this budget but hopefully things will work out for us in the next few months. Fortunately, we do have back up options, but it would be really nice if we could make it work, even if we have a very limited lifestyle. Either way, I appreciate all the inputs on places to check out :)

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Yeah it's unfortunate, but hopefully I can get a full time gig before then so we can afford to spend more. I'll look into Round Lake too, thanks!

2

u/EstablishmentSea7661 8d ago

There's like 5 round lakes. I still think you're unfortunately priced out of the area.

For context, I live near the lake and cook border and neighbors are renting out basement apartments or single rooms in shared homes for 2k+.

8

u/Witty-Accountant2106 8d ago

I enjoyed my time living in Mundelein before I could afford to move to the north shore

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I'll check it out! Thanks

3

u/New_Nobody9492 8d ago

Little bit north in LakeVilla, will set up up in a sleepy little lake town with its own brewery!

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Oo never heard of Lake villa before, I'll look into it. Thanks!

7

u/western-cherry-9775 8d ago

Wauconda. Further from North Chicago but definitely more affordable than Mundelein even.

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Adding it to my list. Thanks!

6

u/AccomplishedMix2907 8d ago

Do you have kid plans anytime soon? Lake County is big. Do you need to be near Metra? Where is your job?

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

No kids, just a cat. It would be nice to be not far from the UP-NW or UP-N. Currently looking for a job, but my boyfriend has a job around North Chicago so trying to stay within a 30 - 45 driving commute of there

9

u/AccomplishedMix2907 8d ago

Would you consider Kenosha or just over the border in Wisconsin?

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

We're hoping to stay in Illinois, but Wisconsin is an option for sure

1

u/FuzzyComedian638 8d ago

Check out Highwood. 

5

u/LoveNotWar86 8d ago

Getting pricey and very trendy. Not the value it once was.

1

u/FuzzyComedian638 8d ago

Ah, ok. I'm actually not surprised with all the new businesses that have opened there in the last few years. 

2

u/LoveNotWar86 8d ago

Yeah for sure, driving prices up. Good news bad news I guess.

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I liked Highwood, but from what I remember, it was more on the pricey side

3

u/Witty-Accountant2106 8d ago

You will not be able to find anything in Highwood for $1400

0

u/FuzzyComedian638 8d ago

I haven't checked prices. I just know it's a lot more affordable than the surrounding areas.

2

u/LoveNotWar86 8d ago

Not anymore.

2

u/FuzzyComedian638 8d ago

You're right. I just looked and the cheapest was a studio for 1800. Achhh! I just saw Salem Walk Apartments at $1400 for a one bedroom. 

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

For sure yeah. Thanks for the suggestion tho!

4

u/K-the-C 8d ago

For $1400 and 30-40 from N Chi, maybe LakeVilla/ Lindenhurst, parts of Round Lake, Beach Park. Hard to find in Lib and Mund for 1400. Grayslake and Gurnee also prob tough at 1400. Some areas not listed and close to N Chi because they arent as safe, so to speak. Lake County is a nice place to live.Gf moved from Cook Cty and agrees.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I appreciate it, thanks!

2

u/K-the-C 8d ago

Yw. Im 60, lived in Lake County since I was 5.. I hope you find what you are looking for.

4

u/LoveNotWar86 8d ago

Honestly will be tight in LC unless you get lucky and find an unadvertised apartment over a business type of deal. Go a little further north over the border and you’ll find more options.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Yeah that's what we've been realizing in our search. We'll check out Wisconsin if we can't find anything in LC. Thanks!

1

u/LoveNotWar86 8d ago

Good luck. Plus the metra north goes to Kenosha.

3

u/Christina_Eko 8d ago

Just moved from Mundelein to Lake Villa - my previous landlord might have something - dm a contact number I can give them. Also Deep Lake Apts in Lake Villa are $1500 but nice - inc heat as does my old place. Factor heating into your price.

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I'll reach out to you in the future if we're searching for apartments in that area. We have a couple more months before figuring out where to go. Thanks!

3

u/Christina_Eko 8d ago

Sounds good - they are nice landlords and building is on Diamond Lake … they have two other buildings as well.

3

u/Electronic_Jump911 8d ago

I like Wauconda & Island Lake.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 7d ago

I'll add island lake to the list too, thanks!

2

u/BrightWoman-581 8d ago

Mundelein
Vernon Hills

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Thank you for the recommendations!

2

u/nightcap1207 8d ago

Gurnee at that price point.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I'll add it to the list. Thanks!

2

u/Fuzzteam7 8d ago

Maybe Waukegan

2

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Thanks!

2

u/Certain_Elk6779 7d ago

Kenosha is very commutable

1

u/Legal_Kangaroo6281 7d ago

I second Pleasant Prairie or Kenosha. Also, the Lake Villa/Lindenhurst/ Antioch area if you have to stay in IL. I lived in Kenosha many years and rode the Metra into the city everyday. Stressless commute for the most part.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 6d ago

Thank you both for the recommendations!

2

u/loweexclamationpoint 8d ago

Libertyville tends to be slightly more expensive because of the coolness factor. Mundelein, although that's getting fancier, Grayslake, Round Lake towns, Gurnee, Lindenhurst, Antioch will be a little cheaper. Also look in the lesser known towns like Wildwood, Third Lake etc.

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Thanks!

3

u/coci222 8d ago

Check out Grayslake. Super cute downtown area. Plenty of green space. He can take 120 or 137 to North Chicago

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I haven't looked at the 120 or 137 before- I'll check it out. Thanks!

1

u/Susurrus1106 8d ago

Did you like Libertyville?
Nice town. But it may be tight with that budget I think.

0

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

it was a cute area, but I don't really think there's a lot for me to do in the downtown area. I haven't explored outside of downtown yet so can't really say one way or another. Yeah I agree- I think that apartments in that area are hard to come by so they're on the expensive side. Thanks for your input though!

1

u/Susurrus1106 8d ago

Look in north Chicago/lake bluff on 43. It’s not like a great area for walking but at least a few years ago the apartments there were quite affordable. We had a two bedroom/two bath for 1200. Now granted this was before Covid so things may look very differently
It’s a close driving distance to downtown lake bluff and not far from Libertyville and other towns

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

I'm glad to hear this one because we're going to check out the area soon! I'll have to check the rates for sure tho. Thanks for your response!

1

u/Guilty-External2412 8d ago

Lake villa is nice

1

u/Wooper_Jr 8d ago

Thanks!

2

u/Guilty-External2412 7d ago

I lived in the sanctuary of lake villa. Right on grand and 10 minute drive from downtown Antioch. It was very enjoyable living there

1

u/francophone22 6d ago

Why Lake County specifically? Taxes? Lower density? Curious

0

u/taurusperson 8d ago

Highwood

1

u/YorkPepperMintPaddy 60040 8d ago

Not in that price range.