Wondering if anyone can help - I'm thinking of moving to the Chicago area and would be working in the Bensenville area. Debating on whether to do it and if so, where to live. I hate long commutes and would prefer to go by train if possible but not sure about how accessible this area is to a cool place to live and transport.

What I'd like for living community/city is: somewhere that's artsy, with parks if possible, not too heavy on crime, and a young (20's) population.

Can anyone give me even the broadest suggestions?

Thanks,

Todd

Whoops - couple more things:
Can anyone estimate rent prices in any places they recommend and whether it'd be easy to find a gym nearby.

thanks,

todd

Todd,

Metra has commuter rail service from Chicago's Union Station to Bensenville. Union Station is the major rail station in Chicago and is located a block west of Chicago's business epicenter The Loop. Union Station is connected to the rest of the city by bus and EL lines which run frequently. A typical train trip from Union Station to Bensenville would be about 30 minutes or so. For more info check out www.metrarail.com and www.transitchicago.com/maps

As for where to live, there are many neighborhoods that match your description: Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Bucktown to name just a few. These nighborhoods are young and fun and are all easily accesable by train and bus. Rents vary greatly, even within neighborhoods. For more in depth info and neighborhood profiles, check out http://chicago.citysearch.com/feature/15797/

Chicago is an absolutely amazing town. Moving here has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life; I hope you'll give it a shot.

Bensenville is west of the city, near the airport, and if you are looking for an artsy, young area in which to live you won't find it there. You want to be in the city.
Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Bucktown are all city neighborhoods in which people who relocate to chicago live. They are expensive and more "yuppy" than young and 20-something. If you want to live where lifelong Chicagoans and real, artsy 20-somethings live, you must go to neighborhoods such as Logan Square, North Center, Lincoln Square, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Pilsen. If you want a suburb that is young and liberal you will be hard pressed -- try Oak Park or Evanston -- though both are pricey. This is a great city! Don't get sucked into living in a $1,000 studio in Lincoln Park. Good luck.

A good friend of mine just moved to Chicago from Atlanta and she loves it. She has made a ton of friends (twenty somethings to fortysomethings. She lives just behind the water tower on Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile).

Check out www.chireader.com for apartment listings. If you want artsy, try Bucktown. It's the heart of the young artist community. Expect to pay at least $700 for a studio and $1000 for a single bedroom.

Will you have a car? If you do, it'll make living in the city and getting to bensenville easier. Conversely, it will may affect where you live. Also, if no car, you will want to live somewhere off of the blue line (pub. transit). Bucktown, which is getting costlier and costlier is off the blue line. Ukranian village is nearby, close to the blue line, is where you can actually get a decent one bedroom for under $800, even $600. it, too, is on the rise in terms of trendiness. lots of hipsters/young people, lots of nightlife. If that's what you like, Lincoln Park/ Lakeview would be out. Conversely, on the n. side, is Lincoln Square, which is still affordable, and rather neat.