Hey Chicago!
Last year, we wrote an article on the top 10 suburbs in Chicago, and this year we’re back with our updated list for 2026. Have things changed on the list?
In case this is the first time you’re reading one of our articles, we’re the Ben Lalez Team, and we’ve helped over a thousand families find homes in and around Chicago over the past decade. Every year around this time, our team looks ahead to see where buyers should be looking.
The biggest change from a year ago is mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed was around 6.76% at the start of 2025. By late February 2026, it was at 5.98%. On a $450,000 home with 20% down, that works out to roughly $170-$200 less per month.
Without further delay, let’s get into the list!
1. Naperville
Naperville is the largest suburb on this list, with a population of around 150,000. The downtown has restaurants, shops, and the Riverwalk, which runs about 1.75 miles along the DuPage River through the center of town.
Median prices are around $600,000, essentially flat from last year. There are typically 270+ homes on the market at any given time, with roughly 60-65 new listings coming in per month. Homes are averaging about 71 days on market.
ACS data puts the average monthly owner costs with a mortgage in Naperville at around $3,150 (this includes taxes and insurance). If you’re thinking about Naperville, make sure to run the math before you set your price ceiling.
Districts 203 and 204 are among the best school districts in Illinois. We’ve previously written about the best school districts in Chicago. District 203 covers most of central and north Naperville and feeds into Naperville Central. District 204 covers the south and west portions and feeds into Naperville North. Both are good, but they’re different attendance zones and different neighborhoods, so know which one you’re buying into.
The BNSF Metra line has two Naperville stations: Naperville and Route 59, with both running into Union Station. Express trips take about 35-45 minutes, depending on your stop and time of day.
2. Downers Grove
The Tivoli Theater has been running since 1928. You’ll find Saturday morning farmers market running from spring through fall. There are restaurants with outdoor seating in warm weather, and it’s a small-city downtown feel built around the Metra station. There are two BNSF stations here (Main Street and Fairview Avenue), and express trains to Chicago take about 30 minutes.
Median prices in Downers Grove are around $580,000, with homes selling in about 59 days, faster than last year. Current home inventory runs 90-100 active listings with around 30 new listings coming on per month.
District 58 covers K-8, and District 99 covers the high schools (Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South), with both having solid programs. Downers Grove also sits at the intersection of I-88 and I-355, which is convenient if your commute is by car to the East-West corporate corridor rather than by train into the city.
3. Oak Park
Oak Park is directly west of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, about 10 miles from the Loop. The Metra UP-W has two stations here, Oak Park and Ridgeland, with trips to Ogilvie running 16 to 23 minutes. The CTA Green and Blue lines are also there. Just note that parking at the L stops is pretty limited.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio are here, along with about 25 homes he designed within walking distance. Marion Street and Lake Street downtown have restaurants, coffee shops, and independent retail. There are Thursday farmers market, summer arts festivals, and a fairly active community event calendar throughout the year.
Median prices are around $380,000. Homes are selling in about 52 days. Inventory typically runs 50-55 active listings.
4. Evanston
Evanston sits on the lakefront directly north of Chicago. Northwestern University has been here since 1855. There are beaches, parks, a real downtown, and a food scene that covers everything from casual to special-occasion.
The Metra UP-N line runs from Davis Street station to Ogilvie in about 26 minutes. The CTA Purple Line is also there with stops throughout the city.
Median prices are around $476,000, up about 6% from last year. About 85 active listings at any given time, with roughly 33 new listings per month. Homes are currently selling in about 56 days.
Evanston’s housing mix is fairly wide. Lakefront blocks have historic single-family homes, and downtown you’ll see condos above restaurants. There are quiet residential streets and dense apartment corridors. The experience varies significantly by neighborhood, so it’s worth exploring a few different areas before you narrow down a price range.
5. Arlington Heights
Median prices in Arlington Heights are around $495,000, down slightly from last year. Homes are selling in about 51 days, which is down from 72 days last year, and inventory stands at 62 active listings with 26 new listings per month.
The downtown around the Metra station has been adding restaurants and activity over the past several years. The old Arlington Park racecourse site is in active redevelopment. The village approved a mixed-use plan that includes housing, retail, and public space. That project will take years to build out, but it’s approved and in motion.
The UP-NW Metra line serves Arlington Heights, with travel time to Ogilvie running about 45-55 minutes.
District 214 serves the high schools in this area, including Buffalo Grove HS, Rolling Meadows HS, and Hersey HS, which is consistently among the top-performing districts in Illinois. Median household income in Arlington Heights is around $116,700. The park system here is extensive, with over 50 parks and facilities.
6. Buffalo Grove
FBI data shows 9 reported violent crimes in Buffalo Grove in 2024. That’s the total count, not a rate. It’s one of the lowest figures in the entire Chicago metro area.
Median prices are around $425,000, up significantly from last year. Inventory is thin, with about 34 active listings and 16 new listings per month. When well-priced homes come on the market, they tend to move quickly. For the rest of home in this area, they’re averaging about 65 days on market.
Buffalo Grove has a notably diverse population, with a large South Asian and Eastern European community that has grown here over the past few decades. That shows up in the restaurants, school programs, and community events.
Parts of Buffalo Grove feed into Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, which consistently ranks among the top public high schools in Illinois. The rest of the village belongs to Buffalo Grove High School. The median household income here is around $129,400.
Transit is the NCS Metra line, North Central Service, with two stations in town. Travel time to Union Station runs about 58 minutes. The NCS runs less frequently than the BNSF or UP lines, so check the full schedule to get an idea of your commute times.
7. La Grange
La Grange has two BNSF stations, LaGrange Road and Stone Avenue, with scheduled travel times to Union Station in the 20-30 minute range. A lot of homes in La Grange are within a short walk of the downtown and the train.
What’s it like living here? The Pet Parade has been running annually since 1946. You’ll find summer arts festivals, holiday events, independent shops and restaurants around the train station. It’s a small town that’s stayed a small town despite being 15 miles from the Loop.
Looking at pricing, the January data in La Grange was distorted this year. There wasn’t a lot of inventory, and that means a handful of transactions can skew a single month’s median in either direction. ACS data puts median owner-occupied home values around $594,300, which is more in line with what actually trades in the village. La Grange is considered a premium market.
Inventory is low right now, with around 22 active listings and 11 new listings per month. LTHS holds a Commendable designation on the Illinois School Report Card. The median household income in La Grange is around $159,900, the highest on this list.
8. Park Ridge
Park Ridge sits on Chicago’s northwest border. The Metra UP-NW line runs from Park Ridge station to Ogilvie in about 32 minutes, and O’Hare Airport is about 5 miles away.
The downtown area is called Uptown. Park Ridge is made up of local restaurants, shops, and well-maintained residential streets that are mostly single-family homes, a mix of older construction and renovated properties.
Median prices are around $577,000, up modestly from last year. We’ve seen some movement in this area, with homes selling in about 32 days right now, down from 62 days last year. Current inventory is around 48 active listings with 18 new listings per month.
9. Orland Park
Orland Park is a southwest suburb, about 25 miles from the Loop. Getting into downtown Chicago by car takes 45 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic and time of day. The Metra Rock Island and SWS lines serve parts of the area.
Median prices are around $372,500, up about 6% from last year, and homes are selling in about 53 days. There are about 117 active listings at the moment, more than any suburb on this list (except Naperville), with roughly 27 new listings per month.
Carl Sandburg High School is in Orland Park and regularly ranks among Illinois’ top public high schools. The village has over 60 parks and miles of bike trails. The median household income in Orland Park is around $98,900.
10. Wheaton
Wheaton is in DuPage County, about 25 miles west of the Loop. The UP-W Metra line runs from Wheaton Station to Ogilvie in about 53 minutes.
Downtown Wheaton has coffee shops, restaurants, and the French Market on Saturdays. The Illinois Prairie Path runs through the area: it’s a converted rail corridor with miles of paved trails connecting across DuPage County. You can cover a lot of ground without crossing a major road.
Median prices are around $410,000, up about 21% from last year, though some of that reflects month-to-month variation. Homes are selling in about 59 days, and the current inventory is around 46 active listings.
The median household income is around $120,000. Community Unit School District 200 covers pre-K through 12 and includes Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools, both well-regarded.
There You Go!
So there you have it, our take on the top 10 Chicago suburbs for buyers heading into 2026.
Each one made this list for different reasons, and if you’re seriously considering which one is the right fit for you, you’ll have to think about what you’re prioritizing: commute time, budget, schools, walkability, and space. We spend a lot of time in these neighborhoods, and we’re happy to talk through any of this in more detail.
Please note that the data we’ve provided in this article is a reflection of the market at the time of writing this article. If you want updated data on any of these areas, let us know and we’ll be happy to provide you with detailed reports. Give us a shout anytime.
And if you’re buying for the first time, don’t forget to grab our Chicago Home Buying Guide. It covers everything from making an offer to what happens at the closing table!
Until then, see you next week for our next article.
