Rochelle, IL

Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
I might have a job oppertunity there, but have heard a few conflicting things.

First I have heard it's a low cost of living, and that it's expensive. I know it's a small city about an hour west of Chicago, and in "the middle of corn fields". Anybody live in the area?

Second is college. I am going to a college that offers Computer Information Systems degrees for Cisco networking. I need to find a college near by to transfer to. I know it is near Dekalb (sp?), IL and NIU IIRC. Anybody know of any colleges in the area?

Third is there anything really *fun* to do, or would I have to head to Chicago area to do *fun* stuff?

Anybody have any other info?
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
rochelle, rochelle

an erotic romance "about life, love, and becoming a woman"
 

FallenHero

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2006
5,659
0
0
I have a very close friend that grew up in the area and I have visited her on multiple occasions. It is, as you describe, in the middle of cornfields. Its a fairly sizable town, but there really is not much beyond it's boarders. Mostly a truck stop and a giant railroad stop they just built up. NIU isn't a far trip from there. I'm not sure of any local colleges. I know she recently bought a house out there, so she isn't leaving anytime soon, but it's her hometown, she likes the atmosphere.

"Fun" things to do...not really. A trip to NIU if you wanna party with college students (gets old quick) or the burbs/Chicago. Real close to I-88, so the drive isn't horrible, just not something you can do every day.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
It's a typical Midwestern area.. you're not going to find shit to do that's 'fun' unless you head into Chicago.. though it depends on your definition of fun.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,639
46,333
136
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

I want to live by Waggy! I would kill to see some dude yanking his girlfriend's fridge in the middle of the day.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.
 

LtPage1

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2004
6,311
2
0
Originally posted by: rudder
rochelle, rochelle

an erotic romance "about life, love, and becoming a woman"

Is IL some tiny country between Milan and Minsk?
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.

Thanks!

So Rochelle isn't the place to live, and I should live in Dekalb instead? It's a college town right? So places to live should be plentiful and cheap correct?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.

Thanks!

So Rochelle isn't the place to live, and I should live in Dekalb instead? It's a college town right? So places to live should be plentiful and cheap correct?


yeah i wouldnt live in Rochelle. I wouldnt say cheap! last time i looked it was $700 a month for a 2 br and like 850 for a 3 bedroom.




 

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,352
23
91
its decent out there...(i actually just drove by there today lol) its near cornfields and i wouldnt expect to do much. for that, you need to either drive or take the train downtown. NIU is also in dekalb, and i think there is a train (elburn i think - my friend and her gf take it to meet up with me in lombard) there. if i had a choice, i would definitely live in dekalb. heck, if you're willing to commute, why not go to naperville or aurora?

and yes, dekalb = college town (NIU).
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: secretanchitman
its decent out there...(i actually just drove by there today lol) its near cornfields and i wouldnt expect to do much. for that, you need to either drive or take the train downtown. NIU is also in dekalb, and i think there is a train (elburn i think - my friend and her gf take it to meet up with me in lombard) there. if i had a choice, i would definitely live in dekalb. heck, if you're willing to commute, why not go to naperville or aurora?

and yes, dekalb = college town (NIU).

napervile/aurora is over a hour drive. not to mention the rent is FAR more then dekalb area.

while Dekalb is a College tonw the only time you notice is at the bars (we have a bunch) and going to walmart during the start of the year.
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: secretanchitman
its decent out there...(i actually just drove by there today lol) its near cornfields and i wouldnt expect to do much. for that, you need to either drive or take the train downtown. NIU is also in dekalb, and i think there is a train (elburn i think - my friend and her gf take it to meet up with me in lombard) there. if i had a choice, i would definitely live in dekalb. heck, if you're willing to commute, why not go to naperville or aurora?

and yes, dekalb = college town (NIU).

Right now I drive 30 min each way to/from work. College is omw, and not a detour. I would like to live close to one of them, where I can walk/ride/run to/from if I want. I would like that to be work, but I'd be fine with it being school as well. Either way, I would want to live within 5 min or so of one or the other.

How far away are Aurora and Naperville? Are they cheaper rent/col?
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: secretanchitman
its decent out there...(i actually just drove by there today lol) its near cornfields and i wouldnt expect to do much. for that, you need to either drive or take the train downtown. NIU is also in dekalb, and i think there is a train (elburn i think - my friend and her gf take it to meet up with me in lombard) there. if i had a choice, i would definitely live in dekalb. heck, if you're willing to commute, why not go to naperville or aurora?

and yes, dekalb = college town (NIU).

napervile/aurora is over a hour drive. not to mention the rent is FAR more then dekalb area.

while Dekalb is a College tonw the only time you notice is at the bars (we have a bunch) and going to walmart during the start of the year.

Nothing wrong with living in a college town at this point in my life, being in college and all ;)
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.

Thanks!

So Rochelle isn't the place to live, and I should live in Dekalb instead? It's a college town right? So places to live should be plentiful and cheap correct?


yeah i wouldnt live in Rochelle. I wouldnt say cheap! last time i looked it was $700 a month for a 2 br and like 850 for a 3 bedroom.

I actually only need a 1 bdrm, because it's just me. I have air mattress/couch for friends.


 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.

Thanks!

So Rochelle isn't the place to live, and I should live in Dekalb instead? It's a college town right? So places to live should be plentiful and cheap correct?


yeah i wouldnt live in Rochelle. I wouldnt say cheap! last time i looked it was $700 a month for a 2 br and like 850 for a 3 bedroom.

I actually only need a 1 bdrm, because it's just me. I have air mattress/couch for friends.


i had a 1 bedroom right next to the dorms (i started at NIU then went to NY at RIT). i was paying $300 a month. but that was 10 years ago.

think i heard they were like $550 for a 1 bedroom (if you can find any. there was nto many).

just a warning. we i would say 90% of the apartments are old. they did build a bunch of buildigns about 3 years ago but they are really expensive.
 
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: K1052
You'll practically be neighbors with Waggy and yes it is basically in the middle of nowhere.

If you end up living in DeKalb instead of Rochelle (20 min drive to Rochelle) you'll be closer to the Metra railhead at Elburn which is an hour ride into downtown if you grab an express train.

yeap be about 20 minutes from me actually.

Rochelle is nice..if you live in the right area. it used to have a HEAVY illegal population. but that hs shrunk. "downtown" is crap and there are really no good stores. but they do have a really good highschool (my kids will end up going there. IF we don't put them in private schools).

Personally i woiuld move to Dekabl, or one of the small towns around the area (cortland is nice (they have the best meat market around) and malta). Dekalb is about the size of rochelle but 10x nicer. just have to watch out for the college kids (NIU).

we also have a good Community College (kishwaukee community college) wich is based in Malta.

Thanks!

So Rochelle isn't the place to live, and I should live in Dekalb instead? It's a college town right? So places to live should be plentiful and cheap correct?


yeah i wouldnt live in Rochelle. I wouldnt say cheap! last time i looked it was $700 a month for a 2 br and like 850 for a 3 bedroom.

I actually only need a 1 bdrm, because it's just me. I have air mattress/couch for friends.


i had a 1 bedroom right next to the dorms (i started at NIU then went to NY at RIT). i was paying $300 a month. but that was 10 years ago.

think i heard they were like $550 for a 1 bedroom (if you can find any. there was nto many).

just a warning. we i would say 90% of the apartments are old. they did build a bunch of buildigns about 3 years ago but they are really expensive.

Outside of NIU, I haven't found many colleges in the area. I can't find any that do a 4 year CIS-Cisco degree either. :(