2023 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in the Chicago Area

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: I’d say this town is very normal, the things I love are down town long grove and the schools which are full of opportunities. My family moved for a larger house with more space and a good school, this area has both. We live a 5 minute drive away from down town long grove, which has three amazing fun festivals a year which include food and fun with your friends. Also the school district is really good, most/if not all of the students attend Stevenson High school, an amazing school full of great opportunities! I like this area overall, as you can see there are many upsides to living here. However it’s a small town, so I wouldn’t say the area is for everyone, and I’ve always loved the big cities.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 8,258

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  6 reviews

Former Resident: A beautiful 1 square mile town in the suburbs of Chicago on Lake Michigan, this town is almost all white and Christian. The architecture is very pretty, and the public schools here are fantastic if you can afford the property tax.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 2,423

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.45 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: We have lived here since 2015 (moved from La Grange) and are very happy here. We moved for the schools and a larger home and lot size. Clarendon Hills is an extremely well run town. You get quick answers from the Village when you call and the streets are always in great shape when there is a snow storm. They also have newer infrastructure (electric, sewage, roads). You hardly ever have power outages and never a problem with flooding. The schools are extraordinary, teachers top of their game and school resources phenomenal. It's a great place to live!... Read 31 reviews

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• Population 8,707

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.44 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I love where I live. Sometimes I wish I had sidewalks although as a kid I would bike on my neighborhood roads or bike paths and then by major roads there are usually side walks or ways for getting to places without being too dangerous. I wish there was a bit more diversity and a younger population so kids could have more fun with other kids. Overall a little bike ride to a friends house isn’t that bad and the area is very safe.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 4,093

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: Inverness is a great place to live if you like to have a bit of space to spread out and enjoy the outdoors. Our neighborhood is very walkable, and if you are a bit motivated you can even walk to the grocery store, Starbucks, etc. Most important, though, is that the people who live here are the best! Neighbors know each other and look out for one another without being intrusive.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 7,684

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Probably the friendliest and most scenic Village in Illinois. Beautiful lakes & beach island. Tons of social events. Great police force, no violent crime. Elite school district. Lots of environmental preservation projects. Local government runs on a shoestring using mostly volunteers.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 1,340

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Great community. Everyone lives their days with enthusiasm, and crime rates are extremely low. Overall a great community!... Read 48 reviews

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• Population 17,148

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: The Western Springs community is a safe, loving, and accepting community that I have spent the majority of my life in. Being in the Honor Society, I have gotten the chance to assist in the running of the Western Springs Historical society and have learned valuable information about our community in the meantime. I look forward to meeting even more of my friendly neighbors and helping the community thrive to the best of its ability.... Read 42 reviews

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• Population 13,550

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Lincolnshire is a great community of people with excellent schools. D103, a K-8 district is located in Lincolnshire that is one of the main reason people move here as well as for being a feeder to Stevenson High School. Stevenson High School is the largest public high school in Illinois, and they are only making the school more inviting to students to provide a place of community in and out of the classroom. Lincolnshire also has close access to the tollway for easy transportation to the city, which makes living in the suburbs more reasonable for those with a commute. Sadly there is no downtown of Lincolnshire it is more of home and schools. Which means there is no walking in downtown during the day.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 7,905

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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• Population 1,315

• City in Illinois

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  694 reviews

Current Resident: Definitely can be impacted by wealth and racial demographics, but Naperville is a fantastic community for raising children and pursuing almost any career! Many opportunities in the arts and media.... Read 694 reviews

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• Population 149,013

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  97 reviews

Current Resident: Wilmette is a vibrant community just north of Chicago near Lake Michigan. I have been very fortunate to have such a wonderful experience in a town where inclusivity, compassion, and support are so highly valued. In the local school district, students are aided with a plethora of support systems, and the teachers are wonderfully selected. While there may not be much that needs changing in Wilmette, one area of note is the lack of diversity within the community. A predominantly white town, Wilmette does not have much opportunity to learn about the cultures and traditions of different minority groups. If we were able to attract young minority families to the area, I think it would be very well-rounded.... Read 97 reviews

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• Population 27,895

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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• Population 2,814

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.53 out of 5  19 reviews

Former Resident: I grew up in Winnetka as did my mom. It’s a wonderful town. As kids and teens, we rode our bikes all over, and there are stop signs on every corner so kids can safely walk everywhere. There are lots of parks, activities at the Community House, and excelkent beach access. There are large beaches and small pocket beaches at the end of all East-West streets. Being literally in the shores of Lake Michigan is fantastic. There is a golf course, AC Nielson Tennis Courts, indoor skating and outdoor skating at town parks, swimming at New Trier. Lots of schools - public. Private, and two Parochial schools- all in town! Uptown Winnetka is great and so is Hubbard Woods. Three Metra train stops, which is terrific, Most towns on the North Shore Line only have one. Trains run below ground so it’s very safe. Easy access to Chicago, or by driving via Sheridan Rd to Lake Shore Drive or Edens expresssway. Lots of village traditions and a lovely library. Very pretty village and neighborhoods.... Read 19 reviews

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• Population 12,658

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  172 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here my entire life, and I love how there have always been fun activities to do throughout the year provided by the village of Buffalo Grove. Every year for Labor Day weekend, Buffalo Grove Days is hosted, which actually is located a block away from my house which makes it easy for me to walk and meet up with my friends or family. There is great food, games, rides, and live music which all make this weekend one of my favorite weekends of the year. BG also has great public facilities, like the fitness center, golf course, driving range, park district building, schools, and public parks, just to name a few.... Read 172 reviews

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• Population 43,062

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Riverwoods for seven years now and overall it has been a great experience. Living in the forest has been very peaceful and the community is amazing. Riverwoods has some of the prettiest homes and an amazing connection to nature. I have been very satisfied with my time living here but if there would be any changes it would be expanding the services provided. Often times we need to go to the neighboring towns for schools, public libraries, etc. Otherwise Riverwoods is a great place to live.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 3,742

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  132 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived here for most of my life and I'm moving away for college. Vernon Hills really is a safe place if you can afford it- little crime (as far as I know), nice enough people, and generally just a pleasant town. My biggest gripes would be having no town center. I'm jealous of Libertyville lol. You can't do anything without a car, so that makes going out a hassle. It depends where in vernon hills you are, but for me, I can only walk to two parks and maybe a supermarket. Not a lot. Teens don't have a lot of places to go after night events (school dances and performances), so we go to restaurants that are still open. A lot of places have started to just close on us, which is valid, but we don't know where else we can hang out. Another thing is how disconnected we are as a community. Yes people are friendly, but we just kinda co-exist. There'll be neighborhoods who are pretty close, but as far as I know, we don't have a notable community outside of that. again, nice place... Read 132 reviews

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• Population 26,723

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: I’ve lived in Hawthorn Woods for 22 years. It’s very safe and beautiful. It is close to stores, schools, restaurants, forest preserves, etc. I love Hawthorn Woods!... Read 21 reviews

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• Population 8,959

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  97 reviews

Former Resident: Northbrook, a Chicago suburb, offers a safe, family-friendly community with excellent schools and a welcoming atmosphere. Residents appreciate the proximity to Chicago while enjoying the tranquility of suburban life. The area's parks and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Shopping and dining options, including Northbrook Court, cater to various tastes. To enhance the community, addressing traffic and transportation issues could improve commuting experiences. Efforts towards affordable housing and sustainability initiatives would benefit the diverse population. Developing local cultural and entertainment venues may enrich leisure opportunities, while promoting community engagement can foster a stronger sense of belonging.... Read 97 reviews

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• Population 35,108

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  57 reviews

Current Resident: I moved here from out of state and couldn’t be happier. Lisle has a small-town feel but is close to larger suburbs and retail areas as well as about 30 mins from downtown Chicago. The area is gorgeous, the people are friendly, the schools are great. It’s not very diverse, however. Overall I really enjoy living here.... Read 57 reviews

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• Population 23,982

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I really like living in Deerfield, although there is definitely not enough diversity. Overall, it's a nice place to live, with good opportunities for students and children. There are many good extracurricular options for students, no matter what their interest is. Local businesses sometimes tend to have struggles staying open for a long time, but the community does a good job at supporting them as they appear.... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 19,228

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: We brought our family to this town for the schools, and beautiful neighborhoods! Highly recommend our neighborhood, Hidden Lakes. Commuting to downtown Chicago is a challenge with traffic, but always a pleasing drive home knowing you'll be welcomed by your community.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 5,012

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 5 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: I moved to Barrington hills right before covid. It was the best decision I ever made. I grew up in the Northshore (Northbrook/Glencoe) and I’d pick BH over those anyday. The properties around here are BEAUTIFUL. So much nature and quiet tree lined roads. Taking walks/bike rides is the best. Everything you could need is a 20 min drive or less. Schools are incredible and only going to get better with the $150M renovation taking place. Montessori pre schools in barrington and deer park. You can own horses/farm animals, have burn piles, build trails with the 5+ acres on your land and no one will bother you. If you want privacy, peace and quiet, your own oasis on a ton of land and be in awe every time you drive through your neighborhood this is the place for you.... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 4,236

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: La Grange Park is a nice, quiet suburb surrounded by businesses. It's less than 10 minutes away from Downtown La Grange, where there are a lot of restaurants, stores, a few nice salons and yoga studios, and a movie theater. It's good place to live. It's relatively safe, so kids can definitely play outside and it has beautiful infrastructure for taking walks.... Read 45 reviews

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• Population 13,501

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  63 reviews

Current Resident: Highland Park is a great town with a diverse group of individuals who are there for one another. There are always different events in the community that are appropriate for every age group. There is something to do from strolling down to the lake to grabbing delicious food downtown Highland Park!... Read 63 reviews

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• Population 30,245