What suburb near Chicago would be a good place to live for a single gal? -

I want to live near the city but not in the city since it could be expensive. I like a place where the community is safe as well but still has a lot of convenient stores (grocery, gasoline, shopping, restaurants). What is your suggestion?

Evanston - it s almost the same as living in chicago, they have so many apartments available.

I tend to feel that the northwest suburbs are the best balance of quality and affordability in the area. I did work in Mount Prospect and loved being there. I live in Glen Ellyn and I like it, primarily for the good schools. Many people that live here used to be single people that lived in the city then had kids and wanted to move before they got to school age. If I were single again I would live in the city myself. It miht be a little bucolic for a single person though. Back to burbs: if you like more urban areas with lost to do Evanston and Oak Park are great, but not very affordable. Elmhurst is a little more affordable but still up there. If you like your car Naperville, St Charles, Geneva are really nice. Naperville is good for young people, lots of restaurants and some night life, the Riverwalk, trendy shopping downtown. And plenty of shopping strips particularly along Ogden Avenue and along Route 59.

Not sure if your from the area, if so you probably know this, if not maybe not but not only should you get out of Chicago but cook country. Chicago is the most expensive but all of cook county has the 11.5% sales tax, plus an assortment of other taxes, vehicle stickers, etc, etc, etc you have to pay. Most any suburb has a Metra train and you can easily be in the city in under 30 minutes. South Suburbs are nice like Tinley, Orland, etc. West burbs also have some nice suburbs like Naperville, DOwners Grove, Oak brook, etc.

Orland park is a nice distance from chicago. It has a very nice indoor mall a water park an amazing park district there are lots of gracery stores and plenty of really good restaurants.

Don t know all of them, but I stayed/lived shortly in the Arlington Heights and Schaumburg areas of metro Chicago. It has all of the things you noted. Nice areas.

Oak Park, LaGrange, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Joliet, Tinley Park, Naperville.