Elmhurst is one of the many suburbs that make up the sprawling patchwork of Chicagoland communities. The city, located less than 20 miles outside of Chicago, is characterized by a lively downtown area, a wide array of public parks, and top-rated schools. Let’s take a closer look at living in Elmhurst. 

Home Prices

Homes in Elmhurst photo courtesy of JosephRoberto

Elmhurst has a wide variety of price points for homebuyers. On the upper end, you can find a median home sale price of $840,000 in Tuxedo Park, an older neighborhood with larger homes. For more competitive pricing, look at homes in Crestview Park. This neighborhood, dating back to the 1950s, has a median home sale price of $270,500. In between those two price points, you can look at neighborhoods like Elmhurst Gardens (a median home sale price of $437,000) and Yorkfield (a median home sale price of $365,000).

How to Get Around

Elmhurst Metra photo courtesy of Cornelius Koelewijn

Elmhurst is a true suburb in that you’ll probably want a car to get around town. Walk Score designates the community as a “car-dependent city.” That being said, commuters can take the Metra from the suburb’s station right to Ogilvie Transportation Center in the West Loop. Plus, Elmhurst does get points for bikeability. Residents have access to the Illinois Prairie Path, a 62-mile trail with about five miles running through Elmhurst.

Downtown Vibes

Outdoor patio in Downtown Elmhurst photo courtesy of Joe+Jeanette Archie

Downtown Elmhurst is home to more than 275 different businesses. Find nearly any cuisine you could have a taste for and shop at a bunch of small boutique shops, like Evelyn on Second and enzee boutique. Plus, the downtown area has entertainment options including a movie theater, an escape room, a bowling alley, and a Pinot’s Palette.

The downtown area could gain even more appeal if zoning approval for “amenity decks” goes through. This zoning change would allow rooftop bars and restaurants to open up atop private homes, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“In general, I can tell you we’d be in support of something that would enhance ambiance to the downtown or other business districts. Several businesses have inquired about using their roofs as open air gathering spaces,” said John Quigley, president and CEO of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce, told the Tribune.

The Schools

Elmhurst residents have access to 11 public schools scoring an eight out of 10 or higher from GreatSchools. This includes six elementary schools (Field Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, and Lincoln Elementary School), four middle schools (Bryan Middle School, Sandburg Middle School, Churchville Middle School, and John E. Albright Middle School), and one high school (York Community High School).

The Parks

Butterfield Park in Elmhurst photo courtesy of JosephRoberto

The Elmhurst Park District operates nearly 30 parks, paths, and wooded areas in the community. During the summer, residents can cool off in park district pools and enjoy events like Park Palooza, an evening with live music, food trucks, a beer garden, and kids’ activities. The park district also offers a ton of programs (golf, martial arts, and theatre just to name a few) for both kids and adults.

The Cultural Scene

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts photo courtesy of oakbrookterracehotels

Those who favor the urban lifestyle often claim culture as a top reason to avoid the suburbs, but living in the burbs does not have to mean giving up easy access to great museums. In Downtown Elmhurst, you can visit three different cultural institutions. The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is dedicated to the beauty of gemstones and the discovery of earth science. See dazzling displays of jade carvings, massive gemstones, and myriad other natural minerals and fossils at this museum. The Elmhurst History Museum, housed in a local mansion, has exhibits on local arcana and more general Chicago history. Through November, you can catch the Chicago Rink Rats: the Golden Age of Roller Skating exhibit at the suburb’s history museum. When you visit the Elmhurst Art Museum, you can also see the neighboring McCormick House, one of three residences designed by famed architect Mies van der Rohe. The art museum itself has a rotating and permanent collection displays across multiple mediums.