Finding the ideal home to raise a family is no easy task, especially in the bustling Chicago area, where suburban living provides a blend of comfort, community, and convenience. The ideal suburb may offer safe neighborhoods, high-quality schools, and a plethora of recreational activities to keep children entertained.
From scenic parks to vibrant community events, Chicago’s suburbs provide a plethora of possibilities for family life. In this article, we’ll look at seven of the greatest family-friendly suburbs around Chicago. Each suburb has its distinct charm, amenities, and a strong sense of community, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both parents and children.
Join us as we explore these remarkable suburbs and what makes them ideal for family living.
1. Buffalo Grove
There’s a reason this hamlet is one of the fastest expanding in the Chicago area—a variety of reasons, many of which have to do with a thoroughly enjoyable way of life.
Unlike many suburban towns today, which suffer from growing urbanization, Buffalo Grove maintains a sense of community with tree-lined avenues, gorgeous homes, safe neighborhoods, and friendly smiles.
It’s the type of area where your kids can still play securely outside, where there are festivals for every holiday (and then some), a weekly Farmers’ Market in the summer, and the oh-so-cool Limelight Cafe, an event where your teenagers can perform at the Buffalo Grove Town Center.
2. Lisle
Lisle may be a fantastic spot for singles, but it’s also a great place to raise a family—especially if you enjoy nature, a calm environment, and an overall good quality of life. It’s known as “Arboretum Village” because it’s one of the greenest neighborhoods in the area, with lovely parks and the Morton Arboretum, as well as tree-lined residential streets.
In amongst the trees, you’ll find anything from single-family houses to apartments and condominiums. The downtown area is a picture-perfect collection of shops, amazing restaurants, thriving companies, and a newly refurbished prairie-style streetscape—which means it’s easy to stroll around and looks like a movie set.
3. Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire was recently named one of the greatest places for education in the Chicago area, owing to its students’ high test scores, the amount of money spent on each student, and the overall impressiveness of the educational system.
If that isn’t enough to convince you to raise your family here, there are beautiful single-family homes on large lots (some of the most expensive—and luxurious—in the Chicago area), parks and trails, a bustling downtown, quiet residential areas, and, of course, a general sense of community, safety, and well-being.
4. Elmhurst
Elmhurst is the type of city that not only appears wonderful on paper, with exceptional test scores among its pupils, one of the highest median household incomes in the area, and a difficult-to-beat unemployment rate. It’s also a great area to live.
The Elmhurst Historical Museum, the public library, the art museum, and the symphony orchestra are all great places to help your children learn. The area features 22 parks, a community center, a fitness center with an indoor lap pool, tennis courts, outdoor pools, a golf course, and a gymnastics center.
Aside from a gigantic pool full of candy, this establishment provides just about everything your kids need. Yes, property payments are often higher here than in most Chicago suburbs, but look at the homes that money is purchasing for.
5. Winfield
Winfield was recently named one of Chicago’s best suburbs for young couples, for many of the same reasons it ranks seventh on this list. It is the second safest place in the Chicago area, with superb schools and unrivaled amenities.
But beneath it all lies a genuine sense of serenity and camaraderie that you won’t find in a big city. It’s the type of site where residences and businesses date back to its inception, including one of the oldest bars in the area, John’s Restaurant and Tavern, and Schmidt’s Pond, which dates back to the late 1800s.
Some of the residences here date back quite as long, but the majority are more modern, single-family homes that line calm residential streets.
6. Lake Forest
If you can afford the costs in Lake Forest, it doesn’t get any better than this. It is one among the greatest educational institutions in the Chicago area, with small class sizes, strong test results, and a high budget per student.
However, it is also one of the nicest spots in the Chicago area to simply be a kid and have fun. Summer camps for all ages are available, as are early childhood programs through the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department and the Lake Forest Library.
There are also numerous parks, beaches, and forest preserves for people who like to spend time outside. However, as we mentioned earlier, this establishment is pricey. Of course, this means that many of the homes are opulent and spacious, with expansive lawns and plenty of trees.
7. Mundelein
This village is a wonderful choice for families who want to save money on their home payments so they can spend more time having fun! And Mundelein has enough of it. There are festivals throughout the year, including Diamond Lake Beach, summer concerts in the Kracklauer Park gazebo, and Night Out Celebrations.
There’s disc golf and traditional golf, fishing and water skiing, hockey, basketball, tennis, and much more. The majority of the homes here are single-family, but there are also townhomes and condominiums available if you want something smaller.