If you’re looking to build a new house in the Chicago area, finding the right neighborhood to call home is the first challenge. A friendly community with strong schools, low crime rates, convenient transportation to the city, and plenty of activities, restaurants, and shops would be the ideal place to live. In a recent article on Chicagomag.com, the magazine defined the best neighborhoods for new home builders in Chicago. Here are two of the best neighbors in the Chicago suburbs that are blessed with all of these advantages without the hustle and bustle of living in downtown Chicago.
Highland Park
Situated in Lake County just 23 miles north of downtown Chicago is the beautiful Highland Park community. Many celebrities have resided and continue to reside in the town, including the infamous Michael Jordan and the Smashing Pumpkins’ former lead vocalist Billy Corgan. Yet, Highland Park has a mix of houses from million-dollar homes to affordable single family homes, making it a great place to build your new home.
Highland Parkers can boost having the best high school in the county (Deerfield) and a low violent crime rate, easy access to Lake Michigan, a vibrant downtown shopping district and many great restaurants. The town is also home to the Ravinia District, a former artists’ colony, which has functioned as a summer home for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the past 77 years. There the Ravinia Festival hosts about 150 music events for all genres from classical music and musical theater to pop and jazz. Having opened in 1904, it’s the oldest outdoor music festival in the country. The town also has four Metra stops connecting you to the city.
Geneva
The town of Geneva is another great location for building your new home. Once a charming river and mill-grain community, Geneva has grown into vibrant place. You can go boating and fishing on the Fox River, watch the Kane County Cougars — a Class A Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs — play baseball, find world-class shopping and restaurants downtown, enjoy the 19th Century architecture of the historic district, or take an hour ride on the Metra into Chicago. With many trails and bike paths, Geneva hosts the Fox Valley Marathon and many 5K races. If that’s not enough, Geneva has one of the best public school systems in the state. Mill Creek is the strongest grade school in the county, and Geneva Community High School is also the best high school in the county.
So, where will you build your new home?