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Illinois - Rest Of Illinois - (Exclude Chicago) - Desi Areas

South Asian Community in Illinois

 

1. Desi Groups

• Indian (Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Sindhi)
• Pakistani (Punjabi, Sindhi)
• Bangladeshi
• Nepali
• Sri Lankan

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2. South Asian Areas

• Naperville: Large Indian and Pakistani community.
• Schaumburg: Mix of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi residents.
• Aurora: Growing South Asian population, particularly Indian.
• Peoria: Smaller but notable Indian and Pakistani community presence.
• Champaign-Urbana: Popular among South Asian students and professionals due to the University of Illinois.

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3. Main Market Areas

• Naperville: South Asian restaurants and small grocery hubs.
• Schaumburg: South Asian stores along major streets.
• Champaign: Markets near the university catering to South Asian needs.

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4. South Asian Grocery Stores

• Patel Brothers (Naperville and Schaumburg): Comprehensive selection of Indian and Pakistani groceries.
• Apna Bazaar (Naperville): Indian and Pakistani essentials.
• Fresh International Market (Champaign): Caters to diverse Asian tastes, including South Asian.
• Asian Supermart (Schaumburg): Popular for spices and specialty items.

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5. Transportation

• Public Transit: Limited in suburban areas; cars are the primary mode of transportation.
• Intercity Connections: Amtrak and Greyhound buses connect cities in Illinois.
• Ride-sharing: Uber and Lyft are widely available.

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6. Religious Places

• Temples:

  • Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple of Greater Chicago (Aurora).
  • Hindu Temple of Central Illinois (Peoria).

• Gurdwaras:

  • Sikh Gurdwara Sahib of Illinois (Schaumburg).
  • Gurdwara of Central Illinois (Peoria).

• Mosques:

  • Islamic Center of Naperville.
  • Islamic Society of Greater Champaign-Urbana.

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7. Cost of Living

• Overall Living Cost: Moderately high in suburbs like Naperville and Schaumburg; more affordable in smaller cities like Peoria and Champaign.

• Apartment Costs:

  • Naperville:
    • 1-bedroom: $1,400–$1,800/month.
    • 2-bedroom: $1,800–$2,500/month.
  • Schaumburg:
    • 1-bedroom: $1,300–$1,700/month.
    • 2-bedroom: $1,700–$2,300/month.
  • Champaign:
    • 1-bedroom: $900–$1,200/month.
    • 2-bedroom: $1,200–$1,800/month.

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8. Best Public Schools in South Asian Areas

Elementary Schools:

• Fry Elementary School (Naperville): High academic performance.
• Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181 (Hinsdale): Popular among Desi families.
• Prairieview Elementary (Schaumburg): Well-rated for diversity and academics.

Middle Schools:

• Kennedy Junior High School (Naperville): Known for its strong academic programs.
• Eisenhower Junior High School (Schaumburg): Inclusive and academically focused.

High Schools:

• Neuqua Valley High School (Naperville): Highly ranked and diverse.
• James B. Conant High School (Schaumburg): Strong academic and extracurricular programs.
• Central High School (Champaign): Excellent for multicultural engagement.