The 10 Best Suburbs Near Chicago, Illinois in 2027

1. Naperville

Naperville ranks first because it is the only suburb on this list that clears every filter at once: District 203 and District 204 both post graduation rates above 95 percent and average ACT scores of 26 or higher, at a median home price near $525,000. Naperville Township in DuPage County averages roughly 2.1 percent effective property tax, below Cook County's 2.3-plus percent. It also ranks among the safest cities in Illinois.

This is the pick for a family that wants top-tier schools without Hinsdale's $1.1 million entry price. The trade is commute: BNSF service to Union Station runs 40 to 55 minutes, the slowest of the top five. Buyers must also verify which of the two districts a specific address feeds, since attendance boundaries split streets. Parts of town near the DuPage River carry flood exposure worth checking on FEMA maps.

2. Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights ranks second on value per dollar: a median home price near $400,000, the lowest of the ten, paired with District 214's six high schools and their 93 percent average graduation rate. Property taxes on a $400,000 home run about $8,000 annually. The Union Pacific Northwest line reaches downtown in 40 to 50 minutes, and the downtown itself is walkable from the station.

This suits budget-constrained buyers who will accept solid rather than elite schools; District 214 does not match New Trier or Hinsdale Central. Compared with Naperville, it saves roughly $125,000 upfront and trades away top-decile district performance. The Arlington Park racetrack redevelopment will add thousands of housing units, which may strain school capacity and traffic — research the build-out timeline before committing.

3. Evanston

Evanston ranks third for transit access no other suburb matches: Metra reaches downtown in 25 to 40 minutes and the CTA Purple Line offers a second option at 40 to 50 minutes. Median home price sits near $475,000, tied with Wheaton for third-lowest. Lakefront location and a dense, walkable downtown let residents handle daily errands without a car. Cook County effective tax rates here can exceed 2.3 percent.

Best for professionals commuting daily and buyers who want city amenities at suburban scale. The trade is urban density and higher crime rates than the western suburbs, plus scarce, expensive single-family homes with yards. Against Arlington Heights, Evanston cuts commute time roughly in half but costs $75,000 more and carries a higher tax rate. Low-lying lakefront areas warrant a FEMA flood-map check.

4. Wilmette

Wilmette ranks fourth on school strength: New Trier Township High School posts a 98 percent graduation rate and sends over 90 percent of graduates to four-year colleges. Homes zoned for New Trier command a 15 to 25 percent premium over comparable homes in neighboring districts. The Union Pacific North line runs 30 to 40 minutes to downtown. Median home price is roughly $800,000, with Lake Michigan access included.

This is for families who put school outcomes above all else and can carry an $800,000 purchase plus Cook County taxes above 2.3 percent. Against Evanston one rank up, Wilmette buys quieter streets and a stronger high school for about $325,000 more. Against Hinsdale, it saves roughly $300,000 while keeping comparable district performance and a similar rail time.

5. Hinsdale

Hinsdale ranks fifth despite elite fundamentals because price caps its reach: median home value runs roughly $1.1 million, and annual property taxes on that figure exceed $22,000. What the money buys is real — Hinsdale Central High School ranks in the top 50 Illinois public high schools per U.S. News, and the BNSF line reaches Union Station in 30 to 40 minutes, faster than Naperville by 10 to 20 minutes.

This fits high-income buyers who want the shortest western-suburb commute with top-50 schools and will not blink at a $22,000 tax bill. Against Wilmette, Hinsdale costs about $300,000 more for a similar commute and comparable district quality. Against Naperville, the $575,000 price gap buys only 10 to 20 minutes of daily rail time — the central calculation buyers get wrong.

6. La Grange

La Grange ranks sixth on commute efficiency per dollar: the BNSF line reaches downtown in 25 to 35 minutes, the fastest Metra time on this list, at a median home price near $550,000. Peak-hour BNSF frequency runs as often as every 15 minutes, the densest service of any line serving these suburbs. The downtown is walkable enough for daily errands without a car.

This targets buyers who need to be in the office daily and will pay for minutes back. The trade is inventory: walkable-core single-family homes with yards are scarce and expensive, and homes within a 10-minute walk of the station carry a 10 to 20 percent premium per MRED data. Against Hinsdale on the same BNSF line, La Grange saves roughly $550,000 and runs five minutes faster.

7. Glenview

Glenview ranks seventh on the space-per-commute-minute trade: the Milwaukee District North line reaches downtown in 30 to 45 minutes, competitive with Wilmette, at a median home price near $650,000 rather than $800,000. Lot sizes run larger than in Evanston or La Grange, and the suburban layout gives families more yard for the money than any north-shore option under $700,000.

This is for families who want north-side rail access and square footage over a walkable core. The downtown is less vibrant than Evanston's or La Grange's, and most errands require driving. Against Wilmette one tier up, Glenview saves about $150,000 but gives up New Trier zoning. Cook County tax rates still apply, so budget above 2.3 percent effective on the purchase price.

8. Western Springs

Western Springs ranks eighth as the BNSF-line middle option: a median home price near $700,000 sits between La Grange at $550,000 and Hinsdale at $1.1 million, on the same fast line with peak frequency as tight as every 15 minutes. Its DuPage-adjacent position and small village footprint keep housing stock consistent, and the station sits within walking distance of most of the residential grid.

This fits buyers priced out of Hinsdale who still want that corridor's rail speed and quiet residential character. The trade is a smaller commercial district than La Grange's and limited inventory turnover in a compact village. Verify whether the local BNSF station gets express or local-only service during peak hours — express trains skip stations, which lengthens the effective commute well past the posted range.

9. Wheaton

Wheaton ranks ninth on affordability with acceptable schools: median home price sits near $475,000, tied with Evanston for second-lowest on this list, and it reports low crime rates alongside Naperville and Arlington Heights. DuPage County township rates near 2.1 percent keep the tax bill below Cook County equivalents — roughly $10,000 annually versus the $11,000-plus a same-priced Cook County home would carry.

This is for budget-focused families who want DuPage tax rates and larger lots. The trade is the longest commute here: the Union Pacific West line runs 45 to 55 minutes to Ogilvie. The downtown is less vibrant than La Grange's, so most errands mean driving. Against Arlington Heights, Wheaton costs about $75,000 more and commutes five to ten minutes longer, but sits in the lower-tax county.

10. Park Ridge

Park Ridge ranks tenth on commute-to-price ratio near the city: the Union Pacific Northwest line reaches downtown in 30 to 40 minutes — ten to twenty minutes faster than Arlington Heights on the same line — at a median home price near $525,000. That matches Naperville's price while cutting fifteen to twenty minutes each way. Cook County placement means effective tax rates that can exceed 2.3 percent.

This suits commuters who want proximity to both downtown and O'Hare without Wilmette or Glenview pricing. The trade is schools that do not reach New Trier or Hinsdale Central tier, and Cook County tax rates rather than DuPage's 2.1 percent. Against Arlington Heights on the same rail line, Park Ridge costs roughly $125,000 more and taxes higher, buying back a materially shorter ride.

How we ranked these

Ten suburbs were scored on four measurable inputs: median closed-sale price from MRED MLS over a trailing twelve months, Metra peak commute time to Union Station or Ogilvie, school district performance from Illinois State Board of Education report cards, and effective property tax rate by township. Price and commute carried the heaviest weight because they are the two constraints buyers cannot renegotiate after closing.

Deliberately ignored: aggregate lifestyle scores, "best places to live" magazine placements, and restaurant or nightlife counts. Those metrics move rankings without changing a household budget. Also excluded were listing-site school assignments, which are frequently wrong at attendance-boundary edges, and any rating older than the most recent state report card cycle. Crime data entered only where it materially separated otherwise comparable suburbs.

What to look for

The decision is rarely suburb versus suburb — it is a specific address versus another specific address. Two homes a mile apart in Naperville can feed a 9-rated and a 7-rated elementary school, and two townships can differ by 0.3 percentage points of effective tax rate. On a $500,000 home that gap is $1,500 a year, permanently. Pull the prior year's actual tax bill and the district's own boundary map before touring.

The common mistake is treating the sticker price as the cost. Illinois averages 2.08 percent effective property tax against a 1.07 percent national average, so a $500,000 home carries roughly $10,400 annually — about $870 a month on top of principal and interest. Buyers relocating from lower-tax states underwrite the mortgage correctly and the tax line incorrectly, then feel it at the first reassessment.

Related questions

What is the safest suburb near Chicago in 2027?

Naperville consistently ranks among the safest cities in Illinois, with violent crime rates well below the national average. Arlington Heights and Wheaton also report low crime rates. Evanston, by contrast, carries higher crime figures than the western suburbs, largely a function of urban density and its adjacency to the city rather than any single neighborhood problem.

Which Chicago suburb has the best public schools?

Wilmette's New Trier Township High School posts a 98 percent graduation rate and sends over 90 percent of graduates to four-year colleges. Naperville Districts 203 and 204 both exceed 95 percent graduation with average ACT scores of 26 or higher. Hinsdale Central ranks in the top 50 Illinois public high schools per U.S. News.

What is the most affordable suburb near Chicago with good schools?

Arlington Heights offers the best balance, with a median home price near $400,000 and District 214 high schools averaging a 93 percent graduation rate across six campuses. The trade-off is a 40 to 50 minute Union Pacific Northwest commute and school performance that is solid rather than top-tier compared to New Trier or Hinsdale Central.

How do Chicago suburb property taxes compare nationally?

Illinois averages an effective property tax rate of 2.08 percent versus the 1.07 percent national average, per the Tax Foundation. A $500,000 home carries roughly $10,400 annually in Illinois against about $5,350 nationally. Cook County townships serving Evanston and Park Ridge can exceed 2.3 percent, while Naperville Township in DuPage averages closer to 2.1 percent.

Which Chicago suburb has the shortest commute downtown?

La Grange on the BNSF line reaches Union Station in 25 to 35 minutes, and Evanston's Metra service runs 25 to 40 minutes. Evanston is the only suburb on this list offering two rail options, adding CTA Purple Line service at 40 to 50 minutes to the Loop for riders who want frequency over raw speed.

How much does walking distance to a Metra station cost?

Homes within roughly a ten-minute walk of a station command a 10 to 20 percent premium over comparable homes a mile or more away, based on MRED data. On a $525,000 Naperville home that is $50,000 to $105,000. Whether it pays back depends on how many years you actually ride the train daily.

Does the Arlington Park redevelopment change the calculus?

The former racetrack site is being converted to a mixed-use district expected to add thousands of housing units and commercial space. That can lift property values while simultaneously straining District 214 capacity and local traffic. Buyers targeting Arlington Heights should read the current village development plans rather than assuming today's enrollment and commute figures hold through 2030.

Are there credible alternatives outside the top ten?

Mount Prospect and Berwyn offer materially lower prices with acceptable school ratings, and both sit on Metra lines. They trade top-decile district performance for affordability. For a household without school-age children, or one planning private school, the premium attached to a New Trier or Hinsdale Central address is money spent on an amenity they will never use.

FAQ

What is the best suburb near Chicago for families?

Naperville is the usual answer, combining nationally ranked Districts 203 and 204, low crime, and the Riverwalk. Median price sits near $525,000, with neighborhood ranges from the mid-$400,000s past $700,000. The cost is commute: 40 to 55 minutes on the BNSF line, meaningfully longer than La Grange or Hinsdale on the same track.

Which suburb offers the best value for commuters?

Arlington Heights, at roughly $400,000 median with a direct Union Pacific Northwest line and a walkable downtown. The 40 to 50 minute ride is longer than the western BNSF suburbs, but you are paying $125,000 less than Naperville and $400,000 less than Wilmette for schools that still clear state averages comfortably.

How long is the typical commute to downtown Chicago?

Between 25 and 55 minutes depending on suburb and line. La Grange runs 25 to 35, Hinsdale and Park Ridge 30 to 40, Wilmette 30 to 40, Glenview 30 to 45, Arlington Heights 40 to 50, and Naperville and Wheaton 45 to 55. Express versus local service can shift any of these by ten minutes.

Are there suburbs with good schools but lower prices?

Arlington Heights near $400,000 and Wheaton near $475,000 both pair respectable district ratings with Metra access. Evanston also sits around $475,000 with the shortest commute on the list. Each concedes something — Arlington Heights and Wheaton concede commute length, Evanston concedes lot size, density, and higher reported crime than western suburbs.

What is the most affordable suburb on the list?

Arlington Heights, at approximately $400,000 median, with annual property taxes near $8,000. Wheaton and Evanston follow at roughly $475,000. At the other end, Hinsdale's $1.1 million median carries over $22,000 in annual taxes — a $14,000 yearly difference in tax alone before any mortgage payment is considered.

Do all these suburbs have Metra access?

Every suburb listed has a station within its boundaries, but not every neighborhood is walkable to one. Verify the distance from the specific address, and confirm the station receives service at the hours you need. BNSF express trains skip some stations at peak, so a nearby station is not automatically a fast station.

How often are Chicago-area properties reassessed?

Cook County reassesses on a three-year cycle; the collar counties — DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry — run four-year cycles. First-year taxes often reflect a stale assessed value below your purchase price. Budget for the correction: take the prior year's bill, recompute the effective rate against what you actually paid, then add roughly ten percent.

Which suburbs carry meaningful flood risk?

Areas near the Des Plaines River and low-lying lakefront parcels are the main exposure. Naperville has seen flooding along the DuPage River, and parts of Evanston sit low near the lake. Check FEMA's flood map service for the specific parcel and request the seller's flood disclosure before making an offer, not during attorney review.

Can I trust GreatSchools and Niche ratings?

Use them to build a shortlist, not to make the decision. Both aggregate data that can lag by several years, so an 8-rated school with falling test scores and a 7-rated school improving fast look identical. Cross-check against the Illinois State Board of Education report card for the current year, then visit during a school day.

Is Hinsdale worth the price over Naperville?

Hinsdale's $1.1 million median buys roughly fifteen fewer commute minutes and a top-50 Illinois high school. Naperville at $525,000 delivers 95 percent-plus graduation rates and comparable college placement. For most households the $575,000 gap is not recovered through school outcomes; it is bought for proximity, lot character, and the address itself.

Sources

• https://www.isbe.net/Pages/School-Report-Cards.aspx
• https://metra.com/schedules-maps
• https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/property-taxes-by-state-2024/
• https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/illinois
• https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
• https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/IL
• https://www.cookcountyassessor.com/
• https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-suburbs/m/chicago-metro-area/
• https://www.mredllc.com/
• https://www.naperville.il.us/

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