Getting Around Skokie

Skokie is just 12 miles outside of Chicago and is largely walkable. Most people living in the city can walk to two restaurants, coffee shops or cocktail bars within five minutes, and the density for amenities is even greater in some pockets, especially along Skokie Boulevard. There is also some public transportation in Skokie. The CTA Yellow Line, known affectionately by locals as the Skokie Swift, runs every 15 minutes as a rule and even sooner in prime time. This connects into the Purple and Red Lines, so it is easy to navigate wherever you need to be. There are also ten Pace Suburban Bus Lines and seven bus lines from the CTA. It is also easy to get on I-94, so getting around is usually not an issue. In fact, the average commute time is just over 27 minutes.

Renting in Skokie

Skokie is filled with residential streets that feature mostly detached, single-story homes, although there are some apartment houses, including both high-rise buildings and garden-style homes. The typical rent for a one-bedroom in Skokie is $1,000 to $1,700 per month. Finding amenities like a heated swimming pool or dog-friendly digs is not difficult, but it pays to check around as offerings can vary. Walkability can also be quite different depending on where you look. In general, the 60077, 60076 and 60203 zip codes are the most walkable, so keep that in mind if you want to be able to complete errands by foot.

The Skokie Life

While Skokie is a suburb of Chicago, it also has a lot to offer on its own. In addition to hundreds of restaurants, coffee shops and bars, retail is also big in Skokie. The Westfield Old Orchard Mall is a popular shopping destination for the entire region and there is a lot more shopping besides. Skokie Boulevard is filled with shops, as is the Lincolnwood Town Center and Touchy Avenue in Niles. In addition to retail, you might also enjoy attending the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, visiting Skokie's impressive public library or getting some fresh air in one of Skokie's parks. The top employers in Skokie include Pfizer, Skokie Hospital and Woodward-MPC Airframe Systems - together, they employ almost 5,000 people - but with being so close to Chicago, other job opportunities are plentiful as long as you don't mind a commute.