For those of you from Chicago

[GT1999]

I just got a new job about 20 min directly west of the city. I'm looking for a new place around the West burbs or even the city (minus expensive gold coast stuff). Open to suggestions on good cities to find apartments.

I think I may hit craigslist up to find roommates.

 

[QueHuong]

I know someone who lives in Carol Stream...seems like a nice neighborhood. About 1 hr from Chicago.

 

[GT1999]

I'm about an hour out right now... lol that is a nice town though from what I know of it.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Naperville?

 

[Ragnarok2]

Carol Stream sucks. My mom works there and its really boring, its mostly huge warehouses. I'm from Naperville Though. Naperville kicks arse. Downtown is great. I recommend it if you got the $$$

 

[Joony]

Skokie / Morton Grove / Lincolnwood / Niles

Nice suburb!

 

[K1052]

Downtown if you have the money. West Loop/River North/Old Town/Streeterville

You couldn't make me live in the burbs now that I've lived downtown if you sawed my legs off with rusty chainsaws and dragged me to Oswego.

 

[midnightrat]

If you want to live in the city then you might want to stick close to the highways, somewhere along the 290 would be best,

but if you want to live in some place cool, bucktown aka wicker park is a nice area that's not too expensive. Lincoln park is closer to the lake and more expensive but very hip to live in. The south loop is also developing like crazy right now so you might be able to find something nice there too. Same goes for the west loop area.

 

[PeteyCPU]

Bucktown (Where I live), Wicker Park, River West (Where I used to live)

All close to highway access, both 290 and 90/94 for work commute. Bucktown has good night life and if you want to hit up Lincoln Park, Wrigley, etc...cabs are plentiful enough

 

[kumanchu]

whats your budget? it's hard to give useful suggestions without knowing how much you are looking to pay.

 

[ebaycj]

Whoa lots of Napervillians here. I was born there, now live a couple miles west of the Rt. 59 train station.


As far as the OP's question, one of my co-workers lives in Des Plaines. He seems to like it. That would be pretty close to where you will be working.

There are lots of condo's in downtown Des Plaines right near the Metra station (which would leave you open for working in the city as well, only about a 20 minute train ride from the loop).

 

[Cobalt]

I live in Hanover Park and go to school in Carol Stream (mile and half apart). It's the 'burbs, nothing special but not bad either.

 

[Dunbar]

20 min. west of the city, where are you working? I grew up in Oak Park, which is about 20 min. west, and it's a nice place to live. If you're young and like to go out, now would be a good time to experience living in "the city". There are any number of areas to live north of the city depending on what you can afford. But you're looking at a 45+ minute commute by "el".

 

[GT1999]

Salary is in the low 50s. There's your budgeting. I have 10k in student loans and that's it but I need a new car.

Work will actually a little further west than Oak Park but not quite to Naperville.

Damn do I need the night life. I'm 25 and I just came out of a 3 year relationship that went very sour (not my fault, either).

I have some very strong connections in Lincoln Park but you guys are right, it'd be over 45-60 minutes commute even if I'm going against rush hour.

I currently live much further out of town and I'm just doing research right now and I'll probably do the commute for a few months.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Montgomery/Oswego area.

 

[GT1999]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
Montgomery/Oswego area.

Meh.

That's a bit TOO far out.

The other suggestions should bode well in my searching however.

Thanks guys.