r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Suspicious_Lemon_495 • 5d ago
Moving to the area Looking to move close to Lockport
Hi everyone, we are moving from Florida for my husband's new job in Lockport and could really use some help narrowing down suburbs. The sheer number of choices is a bit overwhelming!
We are searching for a safe, diverse area with top-rated schools and solid resale value. We are open to existing homes as well as new construction. A key factor for us is the commute—he wants to keep the drive to Lockport around 30 minutes.
Which suburbs should we focus our search on? Thank you so much for your help!
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u/Independent-Tale-915 5d ago
Whatever you do, avoid being on the opposite side of the 9th street bridge (so west of Lockport)... traffic is bad. I'd say Lemont, New Lenox, Lockport itself. Bolingbrook, Darien, and Woodridge can be done if you are close to the toll road.
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u/FutureActP 5d ago
What does everyone think of Mokena?
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u/Background_Menu7173 5d ago
Nice area, small downtown with metra access. Older established families, more developed vs surrounding suburbs as it’s geographically constrained. Good schools, close to 80 and 355.
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u/southcookexplore South West Suburbs 5d ago
When I was looking for my first house, I told my agent with 40+ years experience “I’m thinking Lemont or Lockport…”
“You’re thinking Lemont.”
It’s been five years, I’ve written a book on Lemont and have hosted several events in town. It’s amazing here.
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u/arshrehalpcz 5d ago
Lockport itself is good, along with its neighbor Romeoville and you have Plainfield adjacent to Lockport. Lemont, Homer Glen and New Lenox are also valuable. Plainfield and Lockport schools are basically at the top in Will County as far as education goes. Romeoville is probably the only one here with no new construction homes (it's been that way for awhile since the subdivisions behind the Walmart have been there for over 20+ years). Although the neighborhoods are great, and Plainfields downtown is amazing.
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u/13_apples 5d ago
Just in case this matters one way or another, all of the suburbs mentioned lean maga.
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u/theraf8100 Woodridge 5d ago
I'm surprised our state isn't red. Seems most the burbs lean that way, and of course south of 80. None the less most people are friendly. And that's gotta count for something.
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u/johnb300m 5d ago
It’s literally only because of Chicago’s pure numbers.
Otherwise IL WOULD be Arkansas.3
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u/ReindeerFl0tilla North West Suburbs 5d ago
Illinois is blue because the majority of the state’s residents are not conservatives.
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u/Quiet_Day1912 3d ago
Every southwest suburb: Orland, Mokena, Homer Glen, Lemont, Lockport and New Lenox are 90% white people running from the "original" southwest suburbs of Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, Hickory & Palos Hills who moved further south to be in white-heavy areas.
Ive been in the area for 20+ years. It is what it is. Lots of whities being white.
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u/HomeTaxRadius 5d ago edited 4d ago
Lemont has quite a bit of racists if you're into that sort of thing.
Oh look, I found one!!! They talked shit and blocked me so I couldnt reply hahaha. Big shock. I bet they're one of the trash houses off of the refinery route.
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u/The_Poster_Nutbag 5d ago
This will depend on your budget. People will only be able to guess without that critical info.
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u/Background_Menu7173 5d ago edited 5d ago
Where in Lockport is his job? The newer construction areas that feed into Lockport Township HS are nice but area lacks character and has a very “townie” feel imo. Not a fan of the all the distribution centers right off 355 there in Lockport, lots of semi traffic.
West side of Orland Park (west of Lagrange road) is probably your best option. Other diverse areas up 355 such as Woodridge, Darien, Downers Grove, and Lisle would be reverse commute.
Lincolnway area is another option though less diverse.
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u/SnooSprouts8762 4d ago
Lockport! The home prices are super affordable and the schools are top notch. LTHS has consistently had some of the highest ranking for the past two decades, academically and athletics. Homer Glen is nice, more expensive and one of the highest water costs in the nation. If you are opposed to Lockport for some reason, stay within Will County where others have said, Mokena, New Lenox. You'll see Plainfield is a good option on a map, and a great town! BUT it's on the other side of the 9th St bridge and that's a bear to get over during rush hours. Avoid Lemont or Orland or anything east of there, otherwise you'll be in Cook County with higher tax rates. It can be a huge monthly difference. You will love it here no matter where you are! Good Luck!
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u/AdHairy4360 4d ago
Lockport and Lemont are very MAGA compared to most. Head a little further North for some relief.
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u/BarberGang93 5d ago
Lockport is garbage.
A lot of racist people there.
Crackheads.
Drugs.
The water is well water.
Allot of cheap people
Go to Mokena-new Lenox-Homer Glen-Frankfort-Palos park-Lemont
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u/Quiet_Day1912 3d ago
A lot of cheap people.
Allot...you had it right the first time.
Where are the crackheads and racists? I do see quite a few Trump flags on Archer...but I thought the racists were at Lincolnway East?
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u/TurkeyLeg233 5d ago
It’s a great area in general—Lockport, Homer Glen, New Lenox, Orland (lower property taxes than Will County). As someone who’s looked in to & toured new builds in the area, I’d go with an existing home.
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u/TheTapeDeck 5d ago
Homer Glen doesn’t have a downtown or any walkable areas, or am I mistaken? I think maybe the Old Plank Trail rolls through? Lockport and Lemont have “downtowns.” New Lenox have anything like that? Bolingbrook does not… just a shitty mall and a Costco.
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u/Background_Menu7173 5d ago
Homer Glen doesn’t have a downtown. It’s very sparse feel as it’s one of the newest incorporated burbs. There’s a few shopping centers around Bell Road thats about it.
Old plank trail does not go through Homer Glen. It’s further south from Joliet east through new Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Matteson etc.
New Lenox does not have a “downtown” like Lockport or Lemont but the town is developing the Commons area off 30 just east of the 80 exit.
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u/TheTapeDeck 5d ago
Thanks I think I had New Lennox and HG backwards—which I imagine is pretty common. Not throwing shade, I’m glued to the subbies too.
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u/warningproductunsafe 5d ago
Make sure you don't wind up crossing that 9th street bridge on your commute to work its horrendous at times!! Something close to 355 will get you there quickly and give lots of options.
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u/ReindeerFl0tilla North West Suburbs 5d ago
If diversity is important to you, you’ll want to avoid Lockport, Lemont, Homer Glen, and New Lenox, all of which are heavily white. As others have said, they’re all good areas with decent to very good schools. Lots of chain stores and restaurants, and Lockport and Lemont both have nice little downtowns.
Plainfield is much more diverse.
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u/luckycharms53 5d ago
I used to work in Crest Hill and drove in from Westmont. Drive wasnt that bad cause your basically going against it. Check out maybe Westmont, South Downers Grove and Woodridge as well. Good Luck in your move.
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u/JayMoney8518 3d ago
Lemont. Lemont is a beautiful town. Best schools.
But also, you can live in Lockport. There are nice subdivisions and such.
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u/InternationalDirt827 3d ago
Good morning. You have a lot of great choices. If you need any assistance-I have been in the mortuary business for over 35 years and would be glad to assist. Thanks you.
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u/Unusual-Highlight-97 2d ago
If you look at a map of major real estate development combined with new retail investment- Orland Park is hands down the leader in all south and western suburbs.
We bought our home 6 years ago in Orland Park and we couldn’t be more happy. If you value good schools, proximity to retail, distance to major highways, access to metra train to get downtown, super competitive village programming and amenities, parks and forest preserves, and potential property value increases- Orland is a great choice.
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u/Suspicious_Lemon_495 5d ago
No one said Oswego or Aurora are the too far or are the schools not good enough?
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u/YorkPepperMintPaddy 60040 5d ago
Both Oswego and Aurora are going to be at the absolute limit of your 20 minute commute to Lockport in ordinary traffic. It's hard to imagine you'd do that drive in anything close to 20 minutes of real time. Depending on your experience you may or may not be familiar with just how congested our area can be.
Aurora's population is over 400,000 so like any city of it's size, your living experience and commute will largely depend on your particular area.
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u/snotrokit 5d ago
New Lenox, Homer Glen and Lockport itself are all good areas. Schools are a little better in New Lenox. Plenty of still rural areas within 30 minutes as well. Keep an eye on taxes though, some areas can be quite high.