Oak Park Makes Chicago Magazine's "20 Great Towns and Neighborhoods" List

The April issue of Chicago Magazine includes an article featuring "20 Great Towns and Neighborhoods" in the area. It includes both a mix of the usual suspects (that means you Roscoe Village and Lakewood Balmoral) but also some lesser known areas like Edison Park and Marrynook.

The article also includes ten suburban locations including Wilmette, Glenview, Tinley Park and ... much to my surprise, Oak Park.

I think the reason I was surprised to see Oak Park on the list is because it was such an obvious choice. I'm not complaining, but I just figured they would have gone for the element of surprise. Nevertheless, I'm thrilled to see our little Village in the spotlight.

Each community profile includes a few facts to illustrate what makes them great. This includes average home price, transportation, schools and shopping. On a scale of four stars, here's how Oak Park made out:

Average home price: $447,515
Transportation: Four stars
Schools: Three stars
Shopping: Four stars

And we got a few bonus points for our "rich cultural offerings" and the fact that they are "augmented by a quick train trip into Chicago."

For the purposes of comparison, Wilmette received three stars for transportation and four stars for schools and shopping. Nearby Glen Ellyn received two stars for transportation and three stars for shopping and schools.

The article isn't available on the Chicago Magazine website yet, but you should definitely take a look at it when you get a chance.

But here's my question for you. How would you rate Oak Park in the three areas mentioned above? I agree with four stars for transportation but I only give us three for shopping. Since I don't have kids, I can't weigh in on the school assessment.