Love it!
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3/22/2008
I have lived in Schaumburg 17 years and loved every minute of it. The cost of housing in the whole area is above average, but Schaumburg has a lot of newer townhomes and condos, as well as single family homes. Regardless of your price range, there is something in the area.
There is an excellent rail system that will get you to downtown Chicago even if there is a foot of snow (Hasn't happend since 1978). When it does snow, the roads are cleared quickly so you can get around. Schaumburg Road is a beautiful steet in the summertime. Flowers are planted in the median, the telephone and electric lines have been buried and old fashioned street lamps put up. There are several small parks and lakes in the area with walking paths.
I believe Schaumburg was a "planned" community. Most of it is fairly new, well laid out and organized. There has been a lot of growth in the area in the past 17 years, so it there is always activity.
There are several shopping malls and many smaller retail stores, so you have a lot of choice. You can buy the most expensive, over-engineered products or the basic, very functional products at reasonable prices.
The sales tax in Schaumburg is awful, but the property taxes are relatively low because there is so much business in the area.
Schaumburg has some major employers, several good hospitals and schools, as well as Woodfield Mall. I have always thought there were plenty of jobs here--or downtown, or in surrounding areas.
The mega church, Willow Creek Community Church, is nearby, as well as many other churches. Watch out for traffic jams on Sunday morning on Barrington & Algonquin Roads. Willow Creek is so big, you can get lost in the parking lot. However, they do have a huge staff and a lot of traffic cones to help you make your way.
If you love to cook, there are also a lot of specialty markets where you can buy ethinic food products. I like spicy foods so I really appreciate being able to buy what I need to create special meals. If you don't like to cook, there are so many restaurants nearby, you won't get bored.
There are several community colleges in the area, and Roosevelt University has a large suburban branch in nearby Arlington Heights.
I have always felt safe here. The streets are well lit, there is plenty of parking. However, I don't walk alone at night, and I don't like to go to Woodfield Mall alone at night. I also don't get off the commuter train alone late at night. (Rush hour is no problem. It's a stampede. No time for crime.)
Kathy | Schaumburg, IL