+48 votes
by (1.1k points)
Hi DP moms!  My husband and I are going to be moving to Des Plaines from the city in a month.Hi DP moms! My husband and I are going to be moving to Des Plaines from the city in a month. We don’t know anyone in this particular suburb so Im finding myself not really having anyone to ask about what it’s like living here. It’s a big deal for us to be leaving the city and we’re finding ourselves more nervous about it by the day  We love our current neighborhood (we live in Bucktown) because there are kids/families and dogs everywhere. has a very homey vibe. But we need more space, and I’d about kill for a yard at this point. We have found an adorable house in DP that we are taking the plunge on so I’m just praying more space and all the benefits of it will outweigh how sad we are to be leaving the city! Can I get the low down from any of you? What do you love about living in Des Plaines? Do any of you commute into the Loop on the metra for work and if you do- is it awful, or no big deal? I assume once life goes back to somewhat normal, I’ll be going back to the office and will also be needing to find a daycare/childcare situation for my 16 month old somewhere in the area where I can drop her off and then easily get on the train to work. We’ll be moving very close to the Cumberland metra stop, not the DP one. I’ve heard parking is a nightmare-is this true? Any Des Plaines knowledge to fill me in on would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks so much  
Hi DP moms!  My husband and I are going to be moving to Des Plaines from the city in a month.

41 Answers

+40 votes
by (4.8k points)
 
Best answer
Also, the library is amazing!  
+19 votes
by (4.6k points)
Welcome! Lots of city transplants here! Commuting is super easy and fast. And I made so many “train friends”  I worked two blocks south of Ogilvie so my commute was a breeze. I always thought parking at Cumberland was easier than downtown DP but it’s been like 8/9 years since I’ve worked. What neighborhood are you moving to? You may be able to walk to the station tons of people do from both sides of the track.  
by (1.1k points)
@allusion there are categorized neighborhoods within DP? Ha definitely did not know this. We are moving off Golf, somewhat close to Rand. More towards the Cumberland station than Rand. Not sure what neighborhood that is!  
by (4.6k points)
@marshamarshal haha no I literally meant both “sides” of the tracks! Great neighborhoods on sides with lots of people walking to the train  
+17 votes
by (4.3k points)
DP is great! :) close to everything but far enough to have a yard and peace and quiet. I absolutely love all the produce stores we have. My husband used to travel to the city but parked at downtown DP station. I heard cumberland was a littler easier than downtown.  
+43 votes
by (10.8k points)
Tons of fresh markets and restaurants! My husband used to commute and he'd get the express train home!  
+45 votes
by (10k points)
We just moved here from Chicago 7 months ago. It was a small adjustment but eventually you are going to be like why didn’t we move here sooner! I like Des Plaines because you are still not far from Chicago and still get a suburban feel. I work in the loop and I take the blue line and get off at Rosemont. It is more cost effective than the metra. It sucks im going to be honest ( I use to take the metra when in lived in Chicago). Blue line can be really packed during evening rush hour and sometimes breaks down. Welcome!  
+40 votes
by (1.2k points)
It’s quiet and safe and close enough to everything. I miss the city but with 2 small kids we likely wouldn’t be living the night life dream anyhow:). The forest preserves and parks are really great to have nearby
+22 votes
by (3.7k points)
Welcome! I'm a born and raised Des Plaines resident. Love the area, and so easy to commute to downtown. I'm on the Northwest side of town, by Wolf/Central. Depending on how close you are to the station, many people walk, but parking isnt too bad. Cumberland has a lot on the south side of the tracks, and a small strip lot on the north.  
+25 votes
by (4.8k points)
Love the diversity here and the volunteer spirit of the community! Lots of ways to be involved at whatever level interests you.  
+29 votes
by (6k points)
We live near the Cumberland stop. My husband just walks to the Metra to head downtown. There’s an express train that gets downtown quick. He loves the commute on the train. He has an office downtown and then in Rolling Meadows so he hops back and forth when live is normal. I have lived in Des Plaines almost my whole life. Grew up here and then stayed in town to raise my family. I grew up on the south side near Rosemont and now live over near Wolf and Golf. And I love my neighborhood. I love the town. Good schools. Close to everything you need not too far from the city. Easy highway and train access. Let me know if you have any other questions.  
+4 votes
by (6.2k points)
Welcome I live on the Northwest side of downtown Des Plaines by River and Rand Rd. You will love it here
+13 votes
by (10.4k points)
Hi! You're heading to our neighborhood, welcome! We are on Golf, just a couple blocks east of the traffic circle. My husband and I both work downtown (we also have work from home days, but one of us is commuting daily) so we do a mix of driving to train station and walking. Parking is absolutely no issue at all. The lot is huge. The only caveat is turning left onto Golf to get home. For our particular commute, my husband has to go get the kids when he's off the train, so it works out that he can just turn right onto Golf. But something to keep in mind, as parking on the Northwest Highway side is pretty limited, you'll likely end up in that parking lot. Trains out of the Cumberland station are a bit more limited too, however for us, the times work out perfectly. We can catch the 7:31 express train and it's downtown at 8. We each take different trains coming home, but both are express trains again. We also came from the city (Andersonville) and were nervous about adjusting out here, but it's been great and the ease of our commute is a large part of that. Feel free to PM if you have any questions about the neighborhood!  
by (1.1k points)
@debussy thank you so much- your commuting info is SUPER helpful. We are moving off golf on 5th Ave. Taking walks with our dog and my daughters little buggy car is a huge part of our daily routine so I’m hoping to meet neighbors this summer on walks. maybe we will pass by you!  
by (10.4k points)
Nice! We are at 7th/Golf. We have found the neighborhood to be a mix, there are a lot of older residents, but we moved in about 2. 5 yrs ago and I’ve seen a lot more younger families in the last year. Some hail from the townhomes off Seegers, but I know some of the homes that have sold have had younger families move in. The proximity to the train is great, but we also have been super happy with Cumberland Elementary and having Chippewa Pool right there has been wonderful. Might not be able to enjoy that this year, but something to look forward to! Once you’re settled, take a walk over to the NW side of the circle. The homes over there are so lovely to look at.  
by (11.3k points)
@marshamarshal I think I know the house you're getting, if it's the one we looked at :-D We are right down the street--our townhouse is right at the corner of Seegers and 5th.  
by (10.4k points)
@overact42908 that would have been an easy move.  
by (1.1k points)
@overact42908 omg amazing! We were hoping there’d be families around. 5th Ave isn’t very long, and it’s right between two kind of busy streets so this is great news to hear of someone close by with kiddos! We will have to come say hello when we’ve moved in!  
by (11.3k points)
For sure--our son is older--7, but will be happy to know another neighbor :)
+40 votes
by (3.3k points)
Positives: Great community feel with a lot of families you see in the neighborhoods, park district activities, schools and church. Many playground, parks, pools, and play group opportunities. Many activities and sports available for kids and adults through Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, and park ridge park districts. The schools are terrific, we’ve had nothing but good experiences with our schools here. Lots of stores to choose from and many options for public transportation. Negatives: Traffic can get bad, especially during rush hour. Also, too many train lines running through town. Metra AND freight trains can get super frustrating! And we ALWAYS seem to have construction. Also, Des Plaines (as every town) does have some more “questionable” areas. Hope this helps. Good luck! And welcome!  
+40 votes
by (5.3k points)
We moved up from the city about 2 years ago, I’m by Wolf/Algonquin. Honestly, I love it here. As much as I loved living in Lakeview/Lincoln Square, I find the suburbs peaceful, and safe. Also, what we could get for a ground level 900 square foot condo, without parking. We could afford a cute house, two car garage, a yard, and a finished basement. Seriously, good call!  
+11 votes
by (8.6k points)
City transplant here. We’ve been in des plaines since 2008. It took me about a year to get used to the burbs. it’s definitely an adjustment to not be able to go out your front door and walk to Starbucks/everything accessible. BUT the trade offs started being worth it. We have a home that we renovated over the years ourselves with a basement. a great yard, a driveway and garage (was so done with street parking). def less congestion on the streets and driving in general. lots of parks and outdoor activities like farmers markets. fun places to take our son (ball factory, trampoline park, playroom cafe). There is a taste of des plaines that gets better every year. downtown DP is doing a lot of building too. The theater is being renovated so it’ll be a music venue with a speakeasy! The Mariano’s off golf and Elmhurst has a bar . The only thing I remember really bothering me was my city folks not having much interest in going “allll the way to the suburbs” to come visit. Lol. We usually chose park ridge/Edison park to do dinner and hang out. But that’s 20 mins from DP so it’s a happy medium. I’m a realtor and now everyone is moving to the burbs so a lot of our friends have headed our way.  This is a great group to ask questions or even use the search option and you can usually find a few threads/posts. Congrats on your new adventure!  
+8 votes
by (1.8k points)
We moved from Uptown 5 years ago. We definitely miss many aspects. Things are more limited here, limited shopping, eating options, etc. There are some gems to be sure (you're so close to an amazing Italian restaursnt-Via Roma), but will find yourself going to big box stores more often, but that’s the trade-off. Our commute time actually didn't change much from the Lawrence Red line red to downtown as long as we catch a Metra Express train). Metra is 100x better than the El, and you can drink on the train! So that's a win in my book.  
by (10.4k points)
Agreed. I miss the restaurant variety so much.  
+24 votes
by (5.7k points)
Welcome! I don’t have experience with the train, but I grew up and lived in Chicago for over 25 years and Des Plaines has a lot of the qualities I loved about Chicago and it’s still not too far away. Positives: No need to save your parking spot with a folding chair here in the winter! Wayyy less crime. My anxiety level dropped significantly after moving here. Great amount of diversity, culture and restaurants. And you’re still a 30 minute drive into the city (on a good traffic day) to visit your city favs Negatives- we are basically living in a cut out forest so there’s a lot more unwanted animals and insects. I was not used to this! And the trains are a pain. Leave extra time on your commute in case you get stuck at a train or two.  
+10 votes
by (2k points)
We moved from the city (Jefferson Park) to Des Plaines 7 years ago. We live near the Cumberland stop too. My husband doesn’t remember parking ever being an issue but typically would walk or bike to the train station. And the commute was a piece of cake. We love it here! Our neighborhood is full of young families, cozy and safe. Plus, having a big yard with 3 kids (5, 3 and 1) is a God send right now!  
+26 votes
by (7.8k points)
For parking at the cumberland station - there's a small lot on 14, the bigger lot is off golf road behind the down factory (which is closed) if you look at Google earth or the lot line area in zillow you can see it's pretty big
+28 votes
by (2.4k points)
I don’t think we have neighborhood names ‍♀️ we usually either say what school or park we live near. We just moved in November into a house by Brentwood Elem. School. Before that we were in a condo by Golf/Potter. I don’t feel like I’ve gotten used to or familiar with my new ‘hood yet. Bc we moved in right before winter hit and now COVID. Can’t wait to walk around and explore more and meet other families! Our immediate neighbors are all nice, but elderly lol. You live near the traffic circle on Golf. I used to take it every day to and from work - much easier to use own that it got redone. But it does take getting used to! Welcome! Des Plaines is a great place to live.  
by (6.8k points)
@herder I'll ask my friends. They grew up around here and know all the areas.  
by (6.8k points)
@herder You live in High Ridge Knolls! Welcome  
by (2.4k points)
@deloisedelong Thank you!  I cant wait til summer is in full swing and I’ve recovered from baby #2 (I’m due in a month) so I can walk around and meet people/friends - bonus for those that have a toddler. My little girl needs some friends!  
by (1.2k points)
@herder Come over to Einstein park! It’s south of you, but we have loved it. My 2. 5yo girl and 9mo boy will probably spend most of summer there once things open up again!  
by (410 points)
@sarita yep ! Another one is “college town” behind Cumberland bakery ! Thats where Im at !  
+32 votes
by (4k points)
Hi! We live a couple blocks from the Cumberland station behind the Y. It's a great area to live. Commuting is no big deal - I've been doing it for almost 5 years. Just make sure to catch the express trains if you can! For daycares, you might check out See Me Grow and Learn on Golf and River Road. It's a pretty easy drive from this area and then back to the train stations.  
+40 votes
by (3.7k points)
Welcome! My husband and I grew up in Chicago, but when it came time to buying a house we wanted a decent size yard for our family. We chose Des Plaines as it is still very close to the city-- easy drive or hop on Metra to get to where you want to go. We have been here since 2006. We have been very happy with the schools (ELC, Central, Chippewa, and Maine West are the ones my kids attend).  
+15 votes
by (11.3k points)
We live near the Cumberland stop (hi neighbor! ) and my husband commutes downtown from there. (though not at the moment). Schedule isn't as favorable as some of the larger stops for express trains, but he usually gets 7:31 express in the morning and then a local at night--either 5:23 or 5:47. Honestly the issues he does encounter with Metra are more system-wide than stop specific. So things like track incidents or equipment breakdowns. He doesn't have to park, so I can't speak to that, but I don't believe the lot on the south side of the tracks is ever completely full--the one on the north side (along NW Hwy) always is. Our son goes to Cumberland and loves it.  
+6 votes
by (4.3k points)
We moved here from the city in 2018. Welcome, and feel free to pm me any questions!  
by (4.3k points)
(btw we are very happy and are at Forest elem, kids in k and 2) :)
+9 votes
by (4.8k points)
We brought our home when my child was months old. PM me if you want my opinion on schools. The area is fantastic. Close to the expressway if you want to drive downtown for fun. Close to the train if you want to commute. House prices are reasonable. Relatively Safe neighborhoods. Not too many apartments, not that there is anything wrong with apartment dwellers, it's just that apartments generally have move-in/out. Lots of houses with People living on the block for years and years. It could be a bad thing too! LOL. Close to Schaumburg for dining and shopping.  
+8 votes
by (4.5k points)
The only thing I would say about the commute is check how far your office is from Ogilvie. The move out here basically didn't change my husband's commute, but it changed mine to add an additional 20 min (40 min to an hour) then my office moved from Monroe and Dearborn to Randolph and the lake basically and my commute went up to an hour and a half. So I quit my city job and got a job out here in the burbs instead. Otherwise we love living out here!  
by (1.1k points)
@trudi ugh see this is me. Right now it takes me about 45 minutes door to door (living in Bucktown/Wicker Park), but I think my commute is gonna go way up from DP. my office is on Michigan and Wacker. A hike from Ogilvie  
by (10.4k points)
Hah, I’m in the Wrigley Building. I get a free pass for the water taxi through work, but it might be worth looking into for you. It’s always on schedule and you don’t get trapped on the bus, potentially missing your train. By taking water taxi and snagging express trains to/from work, my commute is 1 hr door to door.  
by (4.5k points)
Yeah I did that commute for about 2 years before I got too fed up with it. My building had a bus from Ogilvie, but even then, it took 20 minutes (and added to the cost of my commute too)
+41 votes
by (1.2k points)
Also, downtown Mt. Prospect has a lot of great restaurants and a farmers market on Sunday’s. Should we be allowed in public places this summer, we could plan a meetup!  
by (1.1k points)
@cordillera62 I keep forgetting we will basically be right on the edge of Mt Prospect too, that’s a good point! And YES! I would love to meet new moms/kiddos. Fingers crossed this summer isn’t a total wash  
by (10.4k points)
@marshamarshal This area is great in that regard, close to downtown Des Plaines for library, etc. Minutes away from Mariano’s. Tons of stuff up Rand and close to downtown Arlington Heights (great restaurants! ) and Mount Prospect.  
by (4.1k points)
@marshamarshal if the city opens again MP had a great Fridays on the green in downtown MP with bands and you can bring your own chairs, drinks and snacks
+9 votes
by (2.3k points)
I'm a city gal, born and raised on the north side of Chicago. I never imagined living in the burbs, but we moved here when I was pregnant with my son. I absolutely LOVE it here. Some of the drawbacks: Public transportation within the burbs is not good. Unless you have a car, it's tough getting around here. We live walking distance to the Metra and a grocery store, so we're lucky. My husband worked downtown, so getting to work was easy. Besides that, I found that our neighborhood was a bit more conservative in the beginning, but that has changed. We've met great people and this city is pretty friendly. We have nice parks and good schools. I love the high school! Our library is great. We don't have a ton of restaurants, but we have an excellent Vietnamese place, a great baker/diner, and some other really good spots. It's fairly quiet and safe. So, while I was hesitant to live in the suburbs, 20 years later, I'm still super happy here.  
by (2.3k points)
Sorry for the long response, but I'm a big fan of DP!  
by (1.1k points)
@unreadable love it, this is exactly why I posted in here! Thanks for sharing your perspective! Everyone’s responses are so helpful, I can’t wait to make my husband read all of them so he can stop saying “are we sure about this?! ” everyday  
by (2.3k points)
Trust me, I get his concern. I'm probably one of the older moms in this group as my youngest is in high school, but I love this town. I have been pleasantly surprised at how accepting people have been here. I was worried because I didn't want to live in a "white bread" community, especially because my husband is bi-racial. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!  
by (1.3k points)
My feelings exactly! I also moved here from the northwest side of the city. Moved 5 years ago to be closer to work. I work at Lutheran General and my husband worked at Palwaukee at the time. I dont drive at all so thats the only tough part. My 5 year old son (at the time) said he wanted to move to our apartment complex when i showed him pictures, best decision ever! It's quiet, everyone is nice, less traffic. I will say though. we drive all the way back to the city sometimes for some yummies lol. My hubby and i would go to golden nugget all the time. "breakfast for dinner" and i miss their pancakes! I havent found a diner opened late night like them. Omega is 24 hours but theyre not my favorite. No regrets moving to Des Plaines over here!  
+7 votes
by (15.9k points)
What side of DP? I'd say for the commute, you may actually find it quicker /less painful than the city because the express trains get you to the loop a lot faster than the El or a city bus. For the culture, it is an adjustment. I've found biking helps so you can get to things that aren't as walkable, without feeling like you have to get in the car for everything. Check out Glenview near the donut shop and Glenview cycle. Also, downtown park ridge is really nice if you need more of a cityish vibe. You'll get used to it, but it does take time.  
+42 votes
by (13.9k points)
Welcome! What part of the city are you moving to?  
+45 votes
by (12.3k points)
Hi! I came from living in various neighborhoods in the city for eight years and then met a stupid boy, fell in love, bought a house here in Des Plaines and got married. The biggest thing I'm not a fan of, is you can't walk to anything and everything. I wish our downtown was more like Arlington Heights or Park Ridge. You can walk, buy some tchotchkes, get a nice meal, dessert, entertainment and more. I still have a ton of friends that live in the city, and have been going there a lot lately to do stand up, so being able to take the Metra into downtown or to the blue line helps immensely. I only drive into the city if that's the only way to get to my destination, on time. Taking the Metra has always been a breeze for me. Let me tell you, having a yard is great! Our neighbors have been so nice and welcoming since we bought our house. The trails and what not are really nice to bike. Busse woods in in Schaumburg. They have places to fish, as well. Everything you need is a short car ride away. Woodfield Mall and Streets of Woodfield is in Schaumburg. I wish our town had a farmer's market. The library is GREAT! It even has a balcony for nice days. They are restoring The Des Plaines Theater, where they are supposed to do concerts and what not. They're also moving this speakeasy type bar I've wanted to visit in Evanston, to inside the theater. I think that will be great for this town and a wonderful addition. It's nice that whatever our town seems to lack, you can get to, in a neighboring town, with a short car ride or Uber. I'm a step mom and a nanny. I can say this, the moms in the area seem a lot more easy going, where in the city, there was just this I don't know what to call it, judgey judgerton vibe? People here seem to be very helpful and give recommendations when needed. It will take some getting used to at first, but the first couple times your kid gets to run around the yard and/or makes friends on your block, you should be happy with your choice. Please let us know if you need anything else. Welcome, I think you'll like it here.  
by (1.1k points)
@jawbreaker31 thank you so much! I totally feel you on the judgey vibe- glad to hear it isn’t as felt up there. I was also wondering if there’s a “downtown” area in DP. Like can you go to dinner and walk to get ice cream or something? Sounds like not. Womp.  
by (1.6k points)
@marshamarshal I live in Mt. Prospect. Just an FYI the theater referenced to above is by the guy that owns the Arcadia in St. Charles. He plans for it to be like it is there, so I'm excited! I'm not sure how social distancing will affect it.  
by (10.4k points)
@marshamarshal I feel like DP is trying to head in that direction, with the theater renovations and there is a wine bar that’s supposed to go in nearby, etc. But we’re not there yet. Downtown Arlington Heights is a great option though and close by.  
by (1.4k points)
I agree. they are trying. A Fireside Saloon was supposed to be opening at some point too.  
by (4.3k points)
There is the frozen yogurt place by giordanos/potbellys/shop and save. there is a restaurant there also(cant remember the name). but not nearly as nice as uptown PR or downtown AH.  
by (4.1k points)
@baumgardner I agree if he can do what he did in St. Charles we'll be set. It's just gonna take some time. So cross your fingers we all got in early haha
by (12.3k points)
@marshamarshal, I hope and pray they are slowly but surely getting it together. There's a couple chain places in the downtown area. The Sugar Bowl is also there and really yummy. There's also Pane's bakery that is very good! A lot of people are hoping DP will have an awesome downtown area. Hoping with the theater renovation it will help. Yes, Fireside Saloon was supposed to open down there too. No idea with everything going on how it will affect everything. The Arcadia is great, so I'm really hoping the theater helps put downtown DP on the right track.  
+3 votes
by (3.8k points)
Welcome to the neighborhood!  
+32 votes
by (14.8k points)
I commute from Ogilvie to Wacker and Columbus. I’m a fast walker so takes me 20-25 min to walk each way. Many of the buildings also offer shuttles to and from the train so maybe check into that. My buildings shuttle is free, but I believe most others are $1. 50-$2 per trip. I love the walk, it’s my only exercise so I don’t mind it unless raining then it sucks. Good luck!  
+45 votes
by (4.1k points)
We moved from from the city in 2013 were right on the boarder of DP & MP - it's weird we have a DP address, residency in MP and go to EG schools. Not sure what school district you'll be in but we have been very happy with Brentwood so far. We usually go to MP park district for all our sports and classes - we did preschool at St. Raymonds in MP and loved it. Arlington Heights has some great restaurants too and a nice downtown. It took us awhile to meet people (most when our first child here started school, I stay home so with the first we didn't do classes or anything) I would definitely recommend joining some tots classes when everything opens again and getting to know mom's - our hardest things was finding a good pizza place - my husband and I are born and raised in the city and had our places down. But we found some good ones - mugs & tortoises are our favorites.  
by (1.1k points)
@doradorado9347 awesome suggestions, thanks so much! What is EG though?  
by (4.1k points)
@marshamarshal elk Grove
+36 votes
by (1.6k points)
We moved here four years ago from city. I love DP — people are friendly, relatively diverse, good for middle class families. We found our community through kiddie junction daycare and neighbors and yoga studio. DP feels up and coming, lots to look forward to. I wouldn’t want to move anywhere else now. It feels like home. My husband commutes on metra with no problems and we go on family trips to city all the time. Of course this is preCOvid summary
+35 votes
by (2.8k points)
I grew up in Chicago. Never thought I would move to suburbs. But I love Des Plaines. Still close enough to the city when you’re missing the busy-loud-constant moving. But love that we are close to surrounding suburbs like mount prospect and especial Schaumburg. You’re right off highway so that’s convenient. Also being near the air port is nice. Des Plaines is definitely more quiet but you’ll find the the nicest neighbors here. Have a good move and you’ve joined the best group in case you ever need anything. Welcome to DP!  
+15 votes
by (710 points)
If you’re looking for a fantastic daycare, we LOVE A Mother’s Touch. It’s close to downtown so it’s an easy drop off for us and then I drop my husband at the metra (he works in the Burnett building) and head to work. FWIW he really digs the train and the quiet time he gets on it.  
+31 votes
by (770 points)
Hi Jenna! I live near the Cumberland Metra stop, too. Parking hasn’t been an issue but we end up walking or biking to it a lot. I wonder if you bought one of the cute houses for sale near us! We lived in Andersonville for 7 years before moving here for the same reasons. Welcome!  We were surprised at how much we liked it out here. We ended up meeting some amazing friends and now it feels like home!  
+14 votes
by (2.3k points)
Good luck with the move! We moved to DP from the city too (Lincoln square area) almost 2 years ago now. We miss the city sometimes, especially being able to walk around and hit up fun stores, restaurants, bars, etc. . the downtown DP area is definitely lacking, but we’re hopeful that’ll change in the near future. We love our friendly neighbors, the parks, the pools, the park district programs are awesome. We’re by Lake Opeka (they have rental paddle boats and a 8 hole golf course- you’ll gave to check out). We’re happy to call Des Plaines are home. Welcome ! ❤️
+31 votes
by (1.3k points)
Lived in DP all my life. No worries. Lots of famlies and people walking dogs. Plenty of things to explore in the 'burbs.  
+5 votes
by (1.2k points)
WE love our little neighborhood! It has a small town feel and we live in the downtown area, south of miner.  
+20 votes
by (360 points)
Welcome! We moved here from wicker park in 2010 - our first house was closer to where you are moving but we moved near downtown dp 3 years ago. We love it here. I work in the suburbs now but used to work downtown - the commute isn’t bad depending where your office is. My husband works in the west loop and loves his commute and taking the train . There are several great daycares. My kids aren’t in school yet but I’ve heard nothing but good things and my daughter is excited to start in the fall. Lots of parks, activities, etc. A very come as you are, unstuffy vibe in general. You’ll love it here!  
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