alaskafo... their are alot of great towns around chicago... and if you don't mind driving an hour some places are reasonably priced. It just depends on the size of town you would like to live in. I have 4 little ones... our public schools are fantastic, and I am about 45 mins from Midway. Town is called Morris. There are also really good schools and nice towns near here and closer to the airport. Channahon, Coal City, Diamond, Willmington, Dwight.
Get further north, and the price jumps quite a bit.
pm ME if you wand details