North Illinois

[ERMama]

I know this is a double post but I really really need all the advice I can get.

Hubby was offered a job near Ohare airport and really is considering taking it. This means moving as an 1hr45 min drive is just not going to happen (we live in the burbs southwest of Milwaukee, WI now).

Anyone familiar with towns in the area? Particularly looking around maybe Palatine, Crystal Lake, Barrington, or even up to Grayslake/Gurnee.
EXCELLENT schools (I have a son in 2nd grade who still gets special ed help) and family friendly area are musts.

 

[crzykid]

I live in Grayslake and the commute to Ohare everyday would not be fun along with the commute from Crystal Lake.


I cant comment on schools because I dont have children but I will tell you that I used to live in Arlington Heights before we bought our house and it is very family friendly. I wish we still lived there but we could not afford a house there. I do know that in Arlington Heights they have a special ed school called Miner. Our apartment neighbor had a kid that went there. She said it was a heaven sent.

Also I would look into Buffalo Grove, parts of Palatine and Barrington.

 

[manning]

Stay out of Cook county. Taxes are a mess. Sales tax is over 10%.

 

[nala87]

Lake and Dupage country are both very nice. They are further away from O'hare, but taxes in cook country are very high. Unless you live in Rosemont, where their are no, or very little, property taxes. There are however some very nice towns in cook country near the airport (Elmhurst, Rosemont, Oak Park, River Forest)
My Father lives in Lindenhurst (near Gurnee) and it is a very nice town. He works right next to Ohare and he has at least a 1 hour commute everyday one way. If you choose to move to lake country stay near the cook country border because rush hour traffic is a nightmare.
I grew up 5 miles from Ohare and in the evenings to get to my Father's house it has taken upwards of 2 hours. During low traffic times it only take 30-40 minutes.
There is a special ed. school near both Rosemont and Elmhurst called Enger in District 83. It is a fantastic school and will take children up to age 21.

 

[geffric]

I am in palatine and used to work near ohare.. the drive was about 1/2 hour. except when it was snowing..

The school are great.. I LOVE district 15 schools.. My brother is in Des Plaines.

Special ed in the schools at district 15 and in rolling meadows..