<p>I might suggest the Downers Grove / Woodridge area which is west to southwest of Chicago. Close to Oak Brook, Naperville and direct train lines to downtown Chicago if access to business centers are important to you. Lovely family friendly communities. Good school districts (DG North and DG South) that will get your kid anywhere he needs to be, but without the intense cutthroat Ivy pressures of Hinsdale or New Trier. Not cheap, to be sure, but not the insane housing costs of the North Shore. </p>
<p>I’m not familiar enough with the southern suburbs to make any recommendations; can anyone provide perspective? Homewood-Flossmoor comes to mind, but I don’t know much about it.</p>
<p>If you are moving to be able to make frequent visits to your son at UIUC, then I think it’s really only the southern or southwestern suburbs that are worth considering. Good luck!</p>