Looking to move from Chicago to the suburbs? You're not alone. Every year, thousands of Chicagoans trade city life for more space, better schools, or just the dream of parking that doesn't involve circling the block for 40 minutes.
Some people move to the suburbs for schools.
Some people move for space.
Some people move because they tried to find street parking in Lakeview during a snow emergency and saw their future.
This is a complete guide to choosing the best Chicago suburb for your lifestyle—without talking to a realtor, because that conversation is 80% "great schools" and 20% saying "quaint" like it's a measurable unit.
Step 1: Identify Your Commute Type
Pick the one that’s true.
I commute into the city (or to an office somewhere).
You are choosing a suburb and a transportation system you will complain about for years.
I work from home.
You are choosing a suburb and the inside of your house. The town matters, but your daily life is basically: coffee, walk, errands, repeat.
Hybrid.
You will experience both worlds and be annoyed by each in a different way.
Step 2: Chicago Suburb Commute Options—Choose Your Route First
This is not romantic but it will save you.
Your suburb is basically a relationship with:
a Metra line
a highway
a parking spot that exists in theory
Do this:
choose your top 2 destinations (Loop, West Loop, Med District, O’Hare-ish, whatever)
decide your max commute door-to-door
only consider towns that match
If you don’t do this first, you’ll buy “close to the city” and still spend 58 minutes getting to the city.
Best Chicago Suburbs on Metra Lines
Pros: downtowns, walkability near the station, easier city access
Cons: you will plan dinners around train schedules like it’s 1912
Best Chicago Suburbs Near Highways (I-90, I-94, I-294)
Pros: errands are efficient, you can leave whenever
Cons: traffic will introduce itself as a new member of your household
Far Chicago Suburbs With More Space
Pros: more house, quieter, newer builds
Cons: you will drive to see your friends. You will drive to remember your friends.
Best Chicago Suburbs for Remote Workers
WFH people tour on Saturdays and accidentally buy a lifestyle that only exists on Saturdays.
You need a town that holds up on a random weekday when:
you want a coffee that isn’t your Keurig giving up
you want to walk somewhere without nearly being hit by a Range Rover doing school pickup laps
you need errands to take 25 minutes, not 2.5 hours
WFH suburb checklist (pick 3 that matter most):
a walkable pocket (even if it’s just “near downtown”)
parks/trails you’ll actually use
a library that feels like it gets funding
a third place that isn’t Target
decent takeout options that don’t require a 22-minute drive
internet you can trust with your job
And yes: you are allowed to care about sidewalks. Sidewalks are infrastructure for not hating your day.
How to Prioritize What Matters in a Chicago Suburb
Write your two down. Otherwise you will get sold “charm” and wake up in a cul-de-sac with no sidewalks and a HOA newsletter.
Common “two” combos:
short commute + schools
space + price
walkability + train access
quiet + “still has things to do”
If your two are “cheap” and “perfect,” that’s not a suburb. That’s a story someone tells on Reddit.
What Realtors Actually Mean (Chicago Suburb Edition)
When someone says:
“Great schools” → which district, specifically, and where are the boundaries
“Family-friendly” → you will meet your neighbors immediately
“Up and coming” → you are paying for a future that may or may not arrive
Also: school district lines do not respect your Zillow filters.
Chicago Suburb Property Taxes: What to Expect
People talk about property taxes like they’re warning you about an ocean current.
Do this instead:
pull 3 houses you’d actually buy
compare total monthly cost (mortgage + taxes), not list price
sanity-check what you’re paying for (plowing, parks, libraries, etc.)
How to Actually Visit a Chicago Suburb Before Moving
Two visits. No exceptions.
Weekday morning (traffic + school drop-off energy)
Weekday evening (commute + “what do people do here” reality)
If you only visit on a sunny Saturday, you’re buying patio lighting.
Chicago Suburb Comparison Tool
If you want to compare a bunch of suburbs quickly without opening 30 tabs, here’s the Chicago Suburb Finder. It’s Tinder for towns. Less romance. More property taxes.