Click any of the suburbs or neighborhoods for more information about why we love them, or use the full list below. Chicago is famously a city of neighborhoods, each with its own charms and challenges. But which offer fewer of the latter and more of the former right now? Things like safe streets, decent schools, convenient transportation, solid housing values, plentiful restaurants and shops, and friendly neighbors? Chicago set out to identify 12 of them, plus 12 towns in the six-county metro area with similarly stellar advantages. The first step: poring through reams of information. My editors and I analyzed statistics from Midwest Real Estate Data, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the police departments of Chicago and Illinois for every town in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties and every community area in Chicago for which the city collects statistics. (Community areas typically correspond to the neighborhood names that most Chicagoans use, but not always.

Some large community areas include several different neighborhoods. For example, West Town includes Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, East Village, Noble Square, Smith Park, and—as if you weren’t already confused enough—West Town. Don’t worry: We’ve indicated which neighborhoods fall within a community area.) First we looked at the factor that tends to be uppermost in the minds of families these days: safety. We eliminated from contention all community areas that notched violent crime rates higher than 7.0 offenses per 1,000 inhabitants last year (the city average: 9.3 per 1,000). That meant tossing out the Loop (9.9 per 1,000) and the historic South Side neighborhood of Pullman (11.2 per 1,000), for example. And we eliminated suburbs with violent crime rates above their county’s average—which removed from contention such otherwise appealing places as Evanston (2.2 per 1,000) and Oak Park (2.7 per 1,000), both in Cook County (2.1 per 1,000). Then we turned to education.

If a town or community lacks a public school whose students score above average on standardized tests, we dinged it. And because raising kids in an area that’s at least somewhat diverse is a goal of most parents, we nixed spots where more than 92 percent of residents are of any one race. (Bye-bye, Kenilworth, Western Springs, and Winnetka.) For the places that remained, we looked at ease of transportation downtown, giving extra points to those that have several el stops and at least one Metra stop. (Places with outstanding schools and low rates of property crime also got bonus points.) And we considered how home prices in these places have fared in recent years compared with prices in neighboring areas, as well as whether buyers there can get good value for their money—which is not the same thing as paying the smallest amount. (For detailed price charts covering all Chicago suburbs and neighborhoods with at least 20 home sales in 2013, see this page with all the housing data.)

Finally, I hit the pavement to assess which spots possess those hard-to-define qualities that matter hugely when you’re looking for somewhere to live. Tires For Less Mobile AlThings like vibrancy (are there lots of bustling restaurants and shops?). T-Shirt Ufc MiamiBeauty (are there architecturally interesting buildings or just cookie-cutter developments?). T Shirt Killing FloorFriendliness (does the community have a natural center that brings people together?). Is it, quite simply, a great place to call home? We crowned four champions each in the North, West, and South Sides of the city. For the rest of the metro area, we chose towns based loosely on county population. In suburban Cook County, we chose five places; in Lake and DuPage Counties, two each;

and in Will, Kane, and McHenry Counties, one apiece. On to the winners!Helping You Relocate To Chicago or Illinois Suburbs Are you moving to a new community? Moving to a new area can be a very exciting process. You’ll soon be learning a new community, moving into a new home, and building new relationships. Naturally, a change of this magnitude is also potentially stressful. Concerns over selling your current home, buying a home in your new city, and coordinating your move can become overwhelming. As a real estate professional I can ease the burden on you and make sure your relocation is invigorating. I’ve assisted many individuals and families with the process of relocating to Chicago or surrounding suburbs of Illinois, and I’ll draw on that experience to provide you with the very best of service. Whether you’re going to be joining our community for the first time or heading off to a new horizon, I’d be delighted to help you. I can guide you through the home selling and buying process, provide access to the best moving companies, and give you all the information you need.

This is without a doubt a dramatic time in your life and the lives of your loved ones. I would certainly enjoy the opportunity to be a part of your transition into a new life. Give me a call and we can discuss how I can help you. Call us today at 773-430-3000 to receive your FREE Relocation Kit. Relocation tips to make your move smooth How to make your relocation smooth. If you're in the early stages of relocating to a new community you probably have many questions. It can be hard to know where to begin. That's why I've compiled a short list of tips that can help you remember key steps to a successful relocation. While time constraints are often beyond your control, it's critical to get the ball rolling as soon as you become aware of the future move. If you currently own a home, you should begin the selling process. If renting, you need to check with your landlord regarding the status of your lease and potential penalties you may incur by moving. And of course you will need to look for a home in your new city.

If pressed for time it might be more appropriate to search for a rental before committing to the purchase of a home. A trained real estate professional can be of great assistance in all of these areas. Arrange a garage sale, give unwanted items to friends, or donate them to charity. Start organizing for your move and purchase boxes and other moving supplies. Tip#3: Details, Details, Details File change of address forms and make the necessary arrangements for your children at school. Call all your utility companies and schedule the cancellation of service for at least 1-2 days after your planned move date. Remember, many utility companies will charge you an extra billing cycle if not given enough notice. Tip#4: Pick the Right Moving Company Decide how much involvement you need from your moving company (packing, unpacking, etc.) and investigate moving companies. Your real estate agent can provide suggestions. Get a full estimate and ask the moving company representative any questions you may have.

Consider the benefits of moving insurance and check with your insurance provider to see what protection they recommend. Tip#5: Don't Forget the Kids Moving can be very hard on your children, but there are steps you can take to help alleviate your children's fears. Communicate with them as to exactly what's going on, and get them involved in the moving process and the search for a new home. If they have a favorite toy, pack it last. Tip#6: Moving Your Pet Maintain your pet's daily routine until the day of the move. Take your pet for a routine veterinary appointment and obtain all necessary records. Moving by car is the least upsetting for the animal, but if flying is the only option be sure to plan early. Space for pets on commercial airliners is often limited. You may wish to consider a pet transportation service, which can greatly help your pet with the transition. Tip#7: What About Your Car(s)? Your moving company may be able to accommodate your car, but it can be costly given the fact that most general moving companies charge based on gross weight.