BEst Suburbs in Chicago to Move: 7 Small Towns GAining Serious Momentum Right Now

If you are trying to figure out the best suburbs in Chicago to move, the answer depends on what matters most to you. Some buyers want walkability and a downtown that feels like a real neighborhood. Others want new construction, bigger lots, strong schools, or a smarter price point. And in at least one suburb, an NFL stadium conversation could reshape the market in a big way.

These seven towns are getting a lot of attention for different reasons. Some are already well known. Others are still flying under the radar. But each one solves a different problem for buyers moving around Chicagoland.

How to Think About the Best Suburbs in Chicago to Move

Before getting into specific towns, it helps to frame the decision the right way. The best suburbs in Chicago to move are not the same for everyone. The real question is what tradeoff you are willing to make.

• Want city energy without city stress? Look at older, walkable suburbs close to downtown.

• Want newer homes and polished finishes? Focus on places with active custom build or master planned development.

• Need more house for the money? Head farther out where land goes further.

• Prioritizing schools? Several of these towns stand out for highly rated districts.

• Trying to catch upside? One suburb on this list has a speculative angle that could matter a lot.

That is really what separates these communities. They are not competing on the exact same strengths.

La Grange: For Buyers Who Want a City Feel in the Suburbs

La Grange is one of the clearest examples of a suburb that barely feels suburban. It sits roughly 13 miles west of downtown, but the atmosphere is much more like a Chicago neighborhood than a typical commuter town.

The appeal starts with the layout. You get smaller lots, mature trees, and older homes with character. The blocks feel established and dense in a good way. If you like neighborhoods where people actually walk places, La Grange delivers.

Why La Grange stands out

• A downtown with wide sidewalks, local restaurants, boutiques, a theater, and a library

• Homes within easy walking distance of schools and daily errands

• Strong commuter access on the BNSF Metra line

• A family friendly environment with a lot of built-in charm

Two Metra stations serve the town, La Grange Road and Stone Avenue, and trips to Union Station typically land in the 25 to 30 minute range. That convenience matters if you want an urban style lifestyle without taking on all the issues that come with living in the city full time.

Price wise, most homes trade in the upper $600,000s to mid $700,000s. Larger homes and especially character rich properties can push past $1 million. This is also a fast market. Well positioned homes often sell above asking, so buyers usually need to be prepared to move quickly.

Schools are one of the big reasons people stretch their budget here. Lyons Township High School holds an A+ rating on Niche and a graduation rate in the mid 90 percent range. For families who want their kids to grow up with a strong neighborhood feel and excellent schools, La Grange is hard to ignore.

Elmhurst: New Construction Without Giving Up Access to the City

Elmhurst sits about 16 miles west of the Loop and attracts a different kind of buyer than La Grange. It still offers a walkable downtown and strong schools, but the major differentiator is the custom new build market.

This is one of the few western suburbs where you can realistically find high quality new construction without moving far from Chicago. That alone makes Elmhurst one of the best suburbs in Chicago to move for buyers who want modern finishes, newer layouts, and a manageable commute.

What buyers like about Elmhurst

• A downtown that has become more vibrant with strong dining and retail

• Traditional architecture mixed with a growing number of infill custom homes

• Commuter rail access via the Union Pacific West line

• School performance that keeps family demand high

Depending on the train, getting to Ogilvie can take around 26 to 40 minutes. Existing homes generally run from the mid $600,000s to the low or mid $700,000s. Custom builds often move into the $900,000 to $1.3 million range.

Like La Grange, Elmhurst can move quickly when homes are priced right. Buyers shopping here are often younger professionals or growing families who want a polished house and do not want to sacrifice location to get it.

District 205 also carries an A+ rating on Niche, with strong academic performance including an average ACT score around 29. If your goal is newer construction close in, Elmhurst is doing something that not many nearby suburbs can match.

Oak Park: Historic Prestige and Unmatched Architectural Character

Oak Park plays a completely different game. This is not about new construction. It is about history, architecture, and cultural weight.

Located less than 11 miles from the Loop, Oak Park has some of the best transit access of any suburb in the region. The Metra Union Pacific West line runs through town, and both the CTA Green Line and Blue Line are accessible as well. That makes downtown Chicago unusually easy to reach.

What makes Oak Park special, though, is its identity. The town has the highest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings anywhere in the world, including his home and studio. Ernest Hemingway was also born here. That kind of legacy gives Oak Park a level of prestige that is difficult to replicate.

Oak Park is a fit for buyers who want

• Architectural significance

• Mature streets and historic homes

• Fast access to the city

• A community with real cultural depth

The housing stock is diverse, so the price range is broad. Attached homes and condos can start below $300,000. Single family homes in historic areas can range from the mid $300,000s into the mid $700,000s depending heavily on condition. Truly notable homes can go much higher.

There is one major caution here. Property taxes in Oak Park run high, even by Cook County standards, at roughly 3 percent of assessed value. That is a big monthly cost factor, and it needs to be accounted for early.

For buyers who want the soul of old Chicago without being in the middle of city chaos, Oak Park deserves serious consideration.

Frankfort: More Space, Strong Schools, and a Downtown With Real Energy

If La Grange and Elmhurst feel close in and polished, Frankfort brings a different value proposition. This is where a lot of buyers start paying attention when they realize how much more home they can get for the money.

Frankfort has been evolving fast. The downtown area, especially around Old Frankfort Way and Kansas Street, feels lively and authentic. Instead of a generic suburban strip, you get a historic district with restaurants, shops, wine bars, breweries, and a real sense of place.

That atmosphere is a big part of why Frankfort is becoming one of the best suburbs in Chicago to move for families who want both space and community.

Why Frankfort is gaining traction

• Larger homes and bigger lots than many western suburbs

• A downtown that feels active and established

• Strong schools that support long term demand

• Better value than many close in markets

Most homes land in the mid $500,000s to low or mid $600,000s, with newer or larger properties going higher. Compared with similarly desirable western suburbs, the value gap can be pretty striking.

Lincoln-Way East High School scores well too, with an A rating on Niche, a graduation rate around 95 percent, and top level status on the Illinois report card. If you have been priced out of the west suburbs and do not want to compromise on schools or square footage, Frankfort is a very compelling option.

Plainfield: The New Construction Magnet for First-Time Buyers

Plainfield is one of the fastest growing communities in the southwest suburbs, and the story here is simple. New construction is driving demand.

Entire neighborhoods have been appearing where farmland used to be. For buyers entering the market, that matters because Plainfield offers something increasingly hard to find around Chicagoland: newer homes at price points that still feel achievable.

If your version of the best suburbs in Chicago to move includes more space, a newer floor plan, and room to negotiate, Plainfield should be on the list.

Plainfield works especially well for

• First-time buyers

• Remote workers

• People who only go into Chicago occasionally

• Buyers focused on square footage for the price

Existing entry level homes generally trade from the mid $300,000s to the mid $400,000s. New construction often starts in the mid $400,000s and reaches the mid $500,000s at base pricing.

The pace here is also calmer than in many close in suburbs. Homes tend to sit longer, often around 50 to 55 days on market, which means buyers may have more time to think and more ability to negotiate.

The tradeoff is commute convenience. Plainfield is about 40 miles southwest of downtown and most of the community does not have direct Metra access. This is much more of a car oriented suburb. For someone heading downtown every day, that can be a deal breaker. For someone working remotely or commuting only a few times a week, it can be an excellent fit.

Lockport: A Lower Price Point With Growth Already Underway

Lockport shares some of the same appeal as Plainfield, but often at an even more approachable price point. It also has another advantage: a downtown that has been steadily reinvesting in itself.

The historic district along the Illinois and Michigan Canal gives Lockport a more authentic feel than many buyers expect. Restaurants, local gathering spots, and a growing business base have helped give the town momentum. More than 380 new businesses opened there between 2013 and 2025, which says a lot about the direction of the community.

Housing is also a major part of the story. A new M/I Homes development bringing 260 homes, including both townhomes and single family properties, adds meaningful inventory. That creates an interesting window for buyers who want to get in before prices move higher.

Typical Lockport pricing

• Resale homes: mid $300,000s to low or mid $400,000s

• New townhomes: low to mid $300,000s

• New single family homes: mid $400,000s to mid $500,000s

Lockport sits about 30 to 35 miles southwest of the city, so the same distance tradeoff applies as Plainfield. But for buyers who care more about space and affordability than being close in, this may be one of the more underpriced opportunities in the region.

Arlington Heights: Strong Fundamentals Plus a Major Speculative Angle

Arlington Heights is the most speculative market on this list, but not because the town lacks substance. It already has strong fundamentals. The added intrigue is the Chicago Bears stadium conversation.

The suburb sits about 25 miles north of downtown and is already considered one of the stronger places to live in Illinois. It has a walkable downtown, highly rated elementary schools, and a mature, established feel. Even without a stadium deal, it has plenty going for it.

What makes it different right now is the former Arlington International Race Track site. The Bears have been pursuing a redevelopment centered on a possible stadium, and recent legislative movement has made the proposal more realistic than it has been before. The plan is not finalized, and there are still hurdles, including Senate approval, the governor's signature, additional project amendments, and outside competition from Indiana. But the market is already reacting to the possibility.

Why Arlington Heights is worth watching

• Strong existing housing demand even without the Bears project

• Speculation tied to a potential stadium on a massive redevelopment site

• A competitive resale market with multiple offer situations

• Long term upside if the project moves forward

Homes typically sell in the mid $400,000s to mid $500,000s, with newer or larger properties going beyond that. Well priced homes often move within about a month.

So is Arlington Heights one of the best suburbs in Chicago to move? If you want a suburb with solid fundamentals and a possible bonus upside tied to a major development story, absolutely. Just understand that part of the value conversation here is speculative.

Which of These Is the Best Suburb in Chicago to Move?

Each of these towns solves a different problem, which is why the best suburbs in Chicago to move depends on what you care about most.

If your top priority is walkability and character

• La Grange

• Oak Park

If your top priority is new construction close to the city

• Elmhurst

If your top priority is space and value

• Frankfort

• Plainfield

• Lockport

If your top priority is long term upside

• Arlington Heights

The best move is to decide what matters most first: commute, schools, budget, lot size, home style, or long term appreciation potential. Once that part is clear, the right suburb usually becomes much easier to identify.

Final Thoughts

The best suburbs in Chicago to move are not all in one part of the map, and they do not all attract the same kind of buyer. La Grange gives you neighborhood energy. Elmhurst offers newer housing closer in. Oak Park delivers history and prestige. Frankfort offers more home for the money. Plainfield and Lockport open the door for first-time buyers chasing space and new construction. Arlington Heights gives you a strong suburb with a potentially game changing catalyst.

That is why broad rankings only go so far. The smarter approach is matching the suburb to your actual lifestyle, budget, and priorities. When you do that, the right fit tends to stand out fast.