Start here. This is everything we know about where to live between Chicago and the Fox River — from a mother-and-son team that has lived it since 1988 and sold 644 homes proving it.
Compare the Towns ↓ Call (847) 738-1884Every northwest suburb trades three things against each other: commute, schools, and price. Closer to the Metra UP-NW line and O’Hare costs more. The most-requested school districts — 214, 57, 125 — carry a premium. And the same budget buys a condo in Arlington Heights, a split-level in Mount Prospect, or a big lot in Elgin. There is no wrong answer — only the right answer for your family. Below, every guide we’ve written, organized the way buyers actually decide.
Each guide covers pricing, schools, neighborhoods, commute, and what living there is actually like.
Big lots, small-town feel — our home base since 1988
$300K–$700K
Award-winning downtown, Metra, top schools
$280K–$650K
The crown jewel: downtown, dining, D214 schools
$350K–$900K
Value + Metra + huge variety of neighborhoods
$250K–$700K
Most affordable Metra town near O'Hare
$250K–$550K
Restaurant Row and fast-appreciating value
$200K–$550K
Stevenson HS district and family subdivisions
$300K–$700K
Compact, friendly, affordable single-family homes
$280K–$500K
Jobs, shopping, and every housing type
$220K–$600K
Space for the money on the northwest edge
$250K–$550K
Meticulously kept ranches near O'Hare jobs
$300K–$550K
City-edge charm with Maine South schools
$400K–$900K
North Shore polish, The Glen, top-rated schools
$400K–$1M+
Brick ranches and unbeatable convenience
$300K–$550K
Historic housing stock and the best entry prices
$200K–$500K
Once you have two or three towns, the real decision is the neighborhood: which blocks feed which schools, what the housing stock is, and what homes really sell for. Every town guide above links to its neighborhood pages — a few of our most-read: Lake Briarwood, Scarsdale, Country Gardens, Winston Park. Prefer low-maintenance living? Browse our 35+ condo & townhome building guides — from Rob Roy Country Club Village to Lake Arlington Towne.
Schools: Most of our core market feeds Township High School District 214 (Prospect, Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove HS) — consistently among Illinois’ strongest — plus Stevenson D125 in Buffalo Grove’s Lake County side, Palatine’s D211, Park Ridge’s Maine South, and Glenview’s Glenbrook South. Elementary districts change block by block, and we flag the boundary lines on every neighborhood page. Always verify a specific address with the district.
Dive deeper — our full district guides:
Commute: The Metra UP-NW line is the spine — Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Palatine — roughly 30–55 minutes to Ogilvie. The North Central line serves Prospect Heights, Wheeling, and Buffalo Grove. Driving, I-90 and Route 53 carry the load, and O’Hare is 15–25 minutes from almost everywhere we work — a big reason these towns hold value.
Inventory in the northwest suburbs is historically tight — well-priced houses still draw multiple offers. We publish an honest breakdown every month: July 2026 Market Update →
More reading: Is Prospect Heights a Good Place to Live? · First-Time Homebuyer Guide · All Articles
We’ve lived here since 1988 and sold 644 homes across these towns. Tell us your budget, your commute, and what matters to your family — we’ll tell you exactly which neighborhoods to look at, and which to skip. Seven days a week, day or night.
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RE/MAX Suburban • Mother & Son Team • 644 Homes Sold
(847) 738-1884 • simsre2000@yahoo.com
330 E Northwest Hwy, Mount Prospect IL 60056