LouieB Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 This is not entirely accurate. Naperville is large and there are plenty of affordable areas within. Yes, there are the McMansions you find all over in the burbs, but it does have a diverse housing selection and quality schools. Also, train access and choice of multiple expressways to the city. I personally know several people who do not make a "whole ton" of money and live quite comfortably in Naperville. This is why it is high on this list.Well you are right, not a whole ton, just half a ton . Naperville is not Winnetka or Kennilworth territory and is slightly more diverse than those areas. According to Wikipedia demographics median income for a household in the city was $110,858, and the median income for a family was $123,221, so while it isn't full of millionaires you can't be broke either but there do appear to be a few poor people as well. Taxes alone in DuPage County are fairly daunting at times. The schools are great, but since they are paid for by property taxes you have to pay for them. Median value of a house is up over $400,000, but then much of the housing in the more well to do suburbs and city neighborhoods of the Chicago area is that high. If you come from somewhere else in the US, that is still quite a bit of money. I have a bunch of relatives in Downers Grove and it is a nice place with good schools and a much nicer downtown. DuPage is an okay place I suppose. Actually there are all kinds of nice towns along the rail lines, if that is what you want. Many of the suburbs in Cook county are perfectly fine and not as far away from the action. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Naperville is not Winnetka or Kennilworth territory Is this heaven? No, it's Winnetka.--4/5/08 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 If you come from somewhere else in the US, that is still quite a bit of money.It'a all relative, Lou. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H.Stone Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Is this heaven? No, it's Winnetka.--4/5/08 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Naperville ##### sucks. It's where a person goes to die on the inside. Having lived there for 3 years now.........and spent a good portion of my earlier life deriding both Schaumburg and Naperville for the shallow, soulless places that they are.........I'm gonna have to agree with imdwalrus. However, the schools are good and my pad rocks......I just dont go anywhere when I'm home-its all stripmalls and chain restaurants. I would kill for a decent Thai or Viet place! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Schaumburg Man Dimly Aware Of Shadowy, Non-Schaumburg World Out There SCHAUMBURG, IL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I'm surprised they got through a whole piece on Schaumburg without mentioning Ikea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I was in Dallas for the first time last week. From what I saw, Dallas has more strip malls per acre than Naperville. Thats quite an achievement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I'm surprised they got through a whole piece on Schaumburg without mentioning Ikea.That was written in 1999. Pre-Ikea, probably. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 That was written in 1999. Pre-Ikea, probably.I'm pretty sure I was in that IKEA prior to September 1999 ... not that it matters in the slightest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Frankly I can't believe we are talking about Schaumberg, Naperville or any of the Chicago ex-urbs in this or any other thread. With all due respect to Naperville, it does have a nice river running through it with a cool park adjacent and downtown really isn't all that bad and the older homes in the original part of town are pretty nice and Naper Village is an interesting tourist site. All this could go into the what chicago has to offer thread, except frankly except for Woodfield Maul in Schaumberg, not much else goes on out there (although there is an ultra cool Japanese mega mall in Arlington Heights that is worth going to.) LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Hey, up near me we have Ravinia! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Ravinia is cool, but it is in Highland Park....even higher end than Naperville.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Ravinia is cool, but it is in Highland Park....even higher end than Naperville.... LouieB Yeah, I don't roll with the hoighty-toighty highland parkers. I live in the slums of Deerfield. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Yeah, I don't roll with the hoighty-toighty highland parkers. I live in the slums of Deerfield. Oh yea, I have friends in Deerfield, it is the slums by comparison....but speaking of a lame downtown; there was none in Deerfield until a few years ago when they suddenly developed one..... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 in palatine we're whiter and more stuck up than naperville, but w/ closer metra access to downtown...for when we want to throw cans of soup at the common folk. there is also a great comic book shop in schaumburg...outside of that though, it is pretty weak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 in palatine we're whiter and more stuck up than naperville, but w/ closer metra access to downtown...for when we want to throw cans of soup at the common folk. there is also a great comic book shop in schaumburg...outside of that though, it is pretty weak.my Mom grew up in Palatine. True story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I had a sister in law who lived in Palatine and moved to Downers Grove. Palatine is a kinda funky old town along the Northwest Highway. Not bad and not that stuck up. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Oh yea, I have friends in Deerfield, it is the slums by comparison....but speaking of a lame downtown; there was none in Deerfield until a few years ago when they suddenly developed one..... LouieB No one knows better than someone who grew up in Deerfield how lame it was and still is. Kids hang out in front of (a very nice) Wallgreen's because there is nothing better to do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 in palatine we're whiter and more stuck up than naperville, but w/ closer metra access to downtown...for when we want to throw cans of soup at the common folk. there is also a great comic book shop in schaumburg...outside of that though, it is pretty weak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 > my Mom grew up in Palatine. True story. why do americans spell MUM wrong? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 > my Mom grew up in Palatine. True story. why do americans spell MUM wrong?I actually call her Ma. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SeattleC Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Anyway, I did like the New York Times article . As for Naperville, one visit was enough (it's probably changed abit since 1979 though I suppose). As for Chicago, I need to visit more often. (If I were to go to Naperville again, it would be via Chicago.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andshewas Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 My dad has a cousin in Naperville, with whom we're rather close. I really haven't seen much of the town, but from what I recall it's just as everyone here is saying. My favorite uncle moved to Arlington Heights last fall for a job, and I was ECSTATIC because he lived somewhat close to Mitsuwa Marketplace and Ikea, which meant fun visits. He quit the silly job quite a few months ago [crazy electrical engineers and their 'consulting' stuff...] and now works/lives[?] in Evanston, which I am not familiar with at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Are there really people who think that Chicago is in a cornfield? That part of Jeff's quote struck me as kind of bizarre. I'm pretty sure most people know the Sears Tower isn't sitting next to a combine. Oak Park is 10-40 minutes from downtown (depending on traffic), is right on the Green and Metra lines (Blue line too, for the South OPers). I grew up there, and think that the schools are fantastic. You get the urban feel of a city - not to mention the plethora of great ethnic restaurants - with the safety and somewhat-small-town-feel of a suburb. Pretty good ethnic diversity; DG and Naperville are, last I checked, pretty much all-white. Left 5 years ago, and have since heard that it has fallen on its head completely (tons of over-development, mecca for yuppies tired of Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park). But when I left, it was great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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