I dont move for a couple of weeks but I live about 20 min south of des plaines and from what I have gathered des plaines is pretty mixed. For example, I was driving around and on some blocks I saw fairly old small houses and then lots double the size with maybe 5 year old giant brick houses kind of like the ones in elmhurst. The downtown area was recently revitalized and looks pretty cool. There are lots of chain restaraunts and restaraunts unique to the area. Theres more to do to the west in the schaumburg area and the blue line is just south in rosemont which will take you into the city, plus theres a metra down town. Also there is a new downtownish area being constructed in rosemont with a giant movie theater, shopping and a waterpark which is planned to rival the ones in wisconsin.
Where abouts did you decide to move to in Des plaines? I am just off of touhy east of mannheim a few blocks from the all state arena.
If I could I would probably live in north chicago but my fiance has a few years left at midwestern and so des plaines ended up being our midway point.
