When you think of Chicago's booming, bustling suburbs, the household names of Naperville, Schaumburg, Palatine, Aurora, and Carol Stream quickly come to mind. Most likely you've done business with a company in the area, and you probably also know someone who lives there. The booming, bustling Chicago Outer Belt suburban region offers excellent economic opportunity within easy striking distance of one of the great urban areas in the world. The so-called Chicagoland area is hard to beat as a family place.

So where, among the many suburban choices, should an aspiring family look live? The above suburbs, plus dozens of others, can all work for families. They have attractive suburban homes, usually on developed, flat farmland, with a small downtown or commercial area often surrounding a station on one of the area's many well-developed commuter arteries. There are plenty of jobs, plenty of places to shop, and plenty to do. The network of freeways and surface streets takes residents most anywhere in reasonable time, except during rush hour or the summer construction season. Downtown Chicago is 40 minutes away, and offers some of the best arts, culture, and entertainment in the country.

Because of its unique heritage, appearance, community resources, and overall "family" feel, we picked the somewhat upscale Lake Zurich on the northwest side. Speaking loudest to us was the married-with-children percentage of 45%, one of the highest among qualifying places. Sitting on a 250-acre glacial lake by the same name, Lake Zurich originally developed in the 19th century as a farming town, then later as a resort community for Chicago getaways. Suburban growth has caught up, but a legacy remains. The lake and its shores are used as a community center, and an outstanding park and recreation system provides 27 parks that are used year-round by local residents. Team sports, nature activities, and fitness programs are king. The 41-acre lake front Paulus Park includes a large "Kids Kingdom" playground supported by local donations and volunteer labor. Public parks are augmented by the new Foglia YMCA. The area has a mix of housing, some of 1900-vintage close in to the village, some in attractive planned developments surrounding the village and lake. The downtown area is undergoing a renewal, bringing in attractive new condo complexes and streetfronts with residential units above.

Standard of Living
Lake Zurich is conveniently situated relative to Chicago and its stronger growth area on the northwest side. Schaumburg, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows, 8 to 12 miles southeast, feature major business establishments and corporate headquarters, and Lake Zurich itself has a 420-acre industrial park with a diverse mix of businesses. Employment growth projections are moderately strong at almost 18%, and median household incomes are very high at $107K. Living costs are high but not excessive for the Chicago area, with a COL Index of 156. Home prices start in the mid $300K's, with a "sweet spot" in the $400K to $450K range, which is high but not unreasonable considering the area and the available amenities. Local industry keeps a lid on effective property tax rates at about 1.7%.

Education
The local Lake Zurich Community Unit School District provides a complete academic and extracurricular educational environment. Scores on Illinois Standards Achievement Tests exceed state average by 10% to 30 %, and more than three in four high-school graduates go on to college. Fully 50% of the Lake Zurich -area's residents have a 4-year or graduate degree.

Lifestyle
Local Parks and community centers offer abundant family opportunities, and the downtown renewal promises to bring in more activities. For shopping, the Deer Park Town Center and the shops of Kildeer are nearby. In addition to Lake Zurich itself water recreation is available at a series of state parks and lakes to the north of Wisconsin, where downhill skiing is also available. As for arts, culture, and entertainment, few places beat the Chicago assortment. Along the Michigan shore one finds the Navy Pier amusement area, Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the "Magnificent Mile" shopping district on Michigan Avenue, and the Museum of Science and Industry south of town. Performing arts are world-class, and professional sports are a passion for fans despite being only infrequently rewarded with wining teams. There is a treasure-trove of interesting architecture all around the city.

For residents who work in Lake Zurich or nearby outer-belt communities, auto commutes are a reasonable 15 to 30 minutes. Driving to Chicago is longer and more difficult, but the Northwestern rail service runs out of nearby Barrington, just 5 miles away. The train ride into Chicago takes about an hour.

Around Lake Zurich, the physical environment is generally flat, developed farmland with some trees. The climate is continental with mild lake influence. Except humid summers, brisk winters, and frequent weather changes.

Health & Safety
For the large metro area, crime is relatively moderate and improving. In Lake Zurich, crime risk as indicated by the "CAP" score is very low. Local healthcare facilities are abundant, and a moderately sized hospital with pediatric facilities is just west of town.

Nearby Neighborhoods
Deer Park, Barrington, and Kildeer are near Lake Zurich and are good neighborhoods but don't have as strong a set of community resources. To the west, Cary offers a newer and somewhat less expensive housing, but it's another 8 miles away from the city. Closer in is Elk Grove Village, an attractive planned suburb with a more mixed, older, less family-centric population profile.