2019 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in the Chicago AreaAbout this List

Long Grove

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 8

Current Resident: We've lived in Long Grove for 10+ years and love it. The large lots, forest and great conservation areas make it feel so private and pastoral, yet it's close to everything with good train service into the city on two different lines. And the best high school in the state (Adlai Stevenson) in my opinion! Downtown LG (meaning the village proper) took a hit in the recession but it is coming back with several new restaurants and businesses now open. Still very atmospheric and New-Englandy.
Read 8 Reviews

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• 7,980 Population

Buffalo Grove

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 129

Current Resident: As a teenager growing up in Buffalo Grove, the majority of my plans with friends involve eating out with friends at one of the numerous restaurants around the area. There are so many amazing options for food in and around Buffalo Grove that include cuisine from almost anything you could think of. In the summer, I bike ride constantly around the area, and I never feel worried about my safety in Buffalo Grove. In order to explore some activities beyond food and dessert, you may need to venture into nearby suburbs. However, you don't need to travel far to experience pedal boating at Independence Grove, indoor skydiving and outlet malls at Rosemont, and other awesome options to do with friends or family. I've been lucky to attend Stevenson High School, which has given me the ability to meet so many people in a diverse atmosphere. Through my AP classes and the rigor of the school, I know I will be prepare to take on college and beyond. Happy to grow up here!
Read 129 Reviews

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• 41,551 Population

Clarendon Hills

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 22

Current Resident: Great small town with excellent schools and a cute downtown. Easy to get to downtown Chicago on train or highway. Cons: lack of diversity and more conservatives than I would like to live near. Also, lack of local businesses leads to higher taxes and the downtown needs some work (though it is improving). Needs better restaurants and a bar or two that doesn’t close at 9:30. It’s a safe, clean and friendly community and a really nice place to live.
Read 22 Reviews

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• 8,680 Population

Wilmette

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 75

Current Resident: Great place to live and very family friendly with safe neighborhoods and great places to hang out. Schools are great, and feed into New Trier, the second best high school in the country. Though not many jobs in town, many people work downtown or in another suburb. Easy to transition to when moving here. Overall, it is a great place for families, schools, and safety.
Read 75 Reviews

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• 27,393 Population

Kenilworth

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 1

Current Resident: I have lived in Kenilworth twice: from the ages of 2-4 and 9-present, and I have loved living here. The people I met here when I was in pre-school or just starting Sears School are people I'm still friends with today. The sense of community is very strong, and everyone really seems to love it. It is extremely safe, and an added bonus is that the police officers are all super nice. If I am given the opportunity, I would definitely raise my kids here when I'm an adult.
Read 1 Review

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• 2,547 Population

Western Springs

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 29

Current Resident: This town captures it all! They have excellent public and private schools for families. There is a very small and quaint downtown area that has several restaurants and wine bars. A good old fashioned market with a butcher/deli, fruit store, oberweiss, Starbucks and many small businesses owned by our very own residents! The town resembles a modern day "Maybury" and yes almost everyone knows each other! I've Iived here for the past 12 years, since my son turned 5 and could start going to school and have loved every minute of it!
Read 29 Reviews

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• 13,187 Population

Green Oaks

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 7

Niche User: Libertyville is a safe area to live in.
Read 7 Reviews

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• 3,855 Population

Tower Lakes

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 8

Niche User: I feel very safe. There have been a few burglaries in last year, but that's pretty much it. Police drive around the neighborhoods very often. I don't have any immediate concerns.
Read 8 Reviews

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• 1,184 Population

Glencoe

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 19

Current Resident: Great community....one of the best in country! Safe, preety and great to raise a family. The Best schools in country!
Read 19 Reviews

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• 8,923 Population

Winnetka

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 10

Current Resident: Winnetka is the perfect place to raise a family, advance a career, or spend the rest of your life. If only the winters were more hospitable, but it's no more than 1/3 of the year!
The schools here are tops! New Trier is number six in IL and 38th in the nation. Metra train to the City is affordable and reliable. Neighborhoods are quiet, but full of family activities. And don't forget, Winnetka is on the North Shore, (the Left Coast of Lake Michigan some will say.)
Read 10 Reviews

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• 12,504 Population

Naperville

• City in Illinois
• 537

Nearby Resident: Downtown area a great place to shop and eat. Parking is available very nice, Family friendly, Great place to take kids for kids. Children have plenty of sporting events. Baseball, Football, Soccer Mecca. People somewhat not friendly often downright Rude! Private College on beautiful campus downtown Great homes, Excellent Schools, Great doctors, not much diversity, Tons of places for fitness. Plenty of Yoga studios and health and wellness work out facilities.
Read 537 Reviews

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• 146,431 Population

Bannockburn

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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• 1,300 Population

Kildeer

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 10

Current Resident: A very conservative middle to upper-class suburb, but a very safe area to live in. A good place to be if you don't really like to be bothered. Very close to attractions such as Woodfield Mall (largest mall in Illinois) and Deer Park town center; the shopping is abundant.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 4,001 Population

Lincolnshire

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 9

Nearby Resident: Lincolnshire is one of the safest towns I have ever been to. Extremely family friendly, making it the perfect town to raise children. Lincolnshire has a fantastic public High School as well as numerous other elementary and middle schools. Lincolnshire is also filled with fun things to do! Filled with fantastic upscale high end restaurants as well as countless chain fast food joints.
Read 9 Reviews

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• 7,328 Population

Indian Head Park

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 2

Current Resident: Indian Head Park is a very good community for families. Most of the neighbors are friendly and the public schools are excellent.
Read 2 Reviews

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• 3,829 Population

Hinsdale

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 35

Current Resident: Hinsdale is a charming quaint town. The town is great for raising a family! The area has excellent schools from pre-k to high school. There's many good restaurants, in downtown hinsdale. I recommend Nabuki... some of the best sushi in the Chicagoland area! The town is overall safe, clean, and a great place to live!
Read 35 Reviews

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• 17,705 Population

Northfield

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 4

Current Resident: Love it! I have lived here for 2 years, and find it very easy to navigate. It's close to the highway, and there is lot's of shopping close by. Schools are amazing, and people are very friendly!
Read 4 Reviews

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• 5,459 Population

La Grange

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 36

Current Resident: I love La Grange, IL. This village is a family, friendly area that is affords great education, comfortable living and caters to old and young people. One of the downfalls of La Grange is their efforts in creating a more diverse environment. My mother was raised in La Grange. I as well as my son have had the opportunity to reside here. Ethnic issues initially arise until stereotypical barriers are brought down. I wish that life could be more visually pleasant, but prejudice still exists. Neighbors are great once they realize there is no real threat among us as a people. Overall, La Grange is an awesome place to be!
Read 36 Reviews

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• 15,721 Population

Vernon Hills

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 100

Current Resident: Vernon Hills is a great community. The public schools excellent and score well on standardized tests. There are many park, bike paths, and green spaces to enjoy that welcome children and dogs. We have a mall and several other shopping centers that have nearly every store you could ever want to visit. The newly built Mellody Farms is a mixed-use development that includes shopping, dining, and apartments.
Read 100 Reviews

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• 26,084 Population

Northbrook

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 61

Current Resident: Northbrook is a wonderful and very safe community that is perfect for families. The schools in Northbrook are exceptional and prepare students for success in their future endeavors. There are many wonderful job opportunities in this community and the real estate market is always booming. Northbrook is very family friendly and everyone in the community is very supportive of one another and the community is always giving back in some way. Commuting is nice because there is not much traffic and everything is close in proximity. Northbrook is also roughly 30 minutes away from the city of Chicago, making it easy to commute for work.
Read 61 Reviews

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• 33,591 Population

Glenview

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 113

Current Resident: There is alot of drugs and violence going on in glenview, even though it is a smaller town. I went to glenbrook south and graduated in 2011, i was oblivious and thought Glenview was a "goody to shoes" and didnt have drugs like coke and weed. I was a senior when I found out and now 8 years later, i think it has just gotten worse. I would like to see more special ed facilities. I am a behavioral therapist who works with the disabled and autistic and I feel there needs to be more resources for them. I love the schools i went to growing up, i think the schools and their teaching is very good. The housing is rather expensive though, i have lived at the same adress for almost 25 yrs with the exception of a 3 month break. Other than that, i love glenview. Thats my home!
Read 113 Reviews

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• 47,066 Population

Riverwoods

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 7

Current Resident: Nice and quiet....you feel like you're in some small town in Wisc. All homes are 1 or 2 acre lots. Lots of trees and flowers. The best!
Read 7 Reviews

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• 3,683 Population

Deerfield

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 28

Current Resident: I am attending a local school and can say, that Deerfield is a rich, white suburban neighborhood. Stores besides Walmart are relatively expansive, the same thing with gas. The gas price can vary up to 20 cents to the neighbor city. On the other side, people are living their life and criminality is really low. Deerfield itself is really small, maybe 3000 people. While it is so little, it only has gas stations and fast food restaurants. Also, what I am wondering about , at least 4 banks are located their.
Read 28 Reviews

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• 18,896 Population

Inverness

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 16

Niche User: This is a wonderful place to live especially for families with children. As a student, the education is of very high quality and establishing solid foundational knowledge early on is incredibly helpful when it comes time for college. There's also a lot of recreational opportunities offered through the park districts.
Read 16 Reviews

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• 7,723 Population

Hawthorn Woods

• Suburb of Chicago, IL
• 13

Current Resident: I have lived in Hawthorn Woods for the past two years and I love it! Hawthorn Woods is beautiful and is just fifteen minutes away from Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills. Due to the fact that it's close to these suburbs, there is always something to do whether it's going to Hawthorn mall, the movies, Lake Zurich, or going bowling. Although there is a lot to do around Hawthorn Woods, the greatest part about it is that the actual suburb itself is not too busy, but instead it's quite a peaceful and laid back place to live. There is a real sense of community here and all my neighbors are kind to each other and respectful.
Read 13 Reviews

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• 7,962 Population