How to leave Chicago without buying a car by accident.
Moving to the suburbs for more space can work without a car, but the list of places where it works well is short.
Start with the parts of your life that still need transportation: work, groceries, dinner, trips into Chicago, weekend plans. Then look for suburbs where those trips do not require a car every time.
A Metra station helps. It does not settle the question.
The short version
- Evanston or Oak Park if you want the easiest transition from city life.
- Berwyn or La Grange if lower rent matters more and you are comfortable relying more heavily on Metra.
- Naperville only if you are looking close to downtown or the station.
| Suburb | Getting around | Car-free life | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston | 'L' + Metra | Easy | Keeping a city-like routine |
| Oak Park | 'L' + Metra | Easy | Similar access for less |
| Berwyn | Metra | Works | Lower rent |
| La Grange | Metra | Works | Walkable downtown |
| Naperville | Metra | Depends on address | More space |
Check the train schedule and what's nearby
Check evening trains, weekend frequency, and Sunday service. If you miss a train at 9 p.m., you want to know whether the next one is in twenty minutes or an hour.
Then look at what is within walking distance of the station.
Groceries, pharmacy, restaurants, coffee, basic errands, and a route home that is comfortable after dark all matter. Some suburban stations are surrounded by active downtowns. Others are surrounded by parking lots.
The cost comparison should include transportation too.
Owning a new car can cost around $12,000 a year once insurance, depreciation, fuel, maintenance, and other expenses are included. A more expensive apartment in a walkable suburb may still be cheaper overall if it lets you avoid adding a car.
The Best Chicago Suburbs for Young Professionals, Ranked by the Last Train HomeWhich towns have options on a weeknight, and how you get home after them.
Evanston vs Oak Park: Taxes, Schools, and the $4,100 DifferenceThe two most-compared towns, on taxes, schools, and transit together.Evanston
Evanston is the easiest option on this list for someone who wants to keep most of a city routine.
The Purple Line and Metra both run into Chicago. Downtown Evanston has groceries, restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and the lake within a fairly compact area.
That convenience tends to show up in the rent.
If you want a suburb where you can still do a lot of daily errands on foot, start here.
Moving to Evanston: The Commute, the Tax Bill and the SchoolsWhat to know before you sign in Evanston.
Things to Do in Evanston, With What Changed This YearThe Evanston weekend list.Oak Park
Oak Park has the Green Line, Blue Line, and Metra, along with a downtown that works well on foot.
It generally feels more suburban than Evanston and can be less expensive.
The biggest advantage is transit flexibility. You are not depending on one commuter rail schedule for every trip into Chicago.
Berwyn
Berwyn is one of the more affordable places where car-free living is still realistic.
It is dense, close to Chicago, and served by Metra. Many parts of town are walkable for basic errands.
The tradeoff is that you have fewer transit options than in Oak Park or Evanston, especially outside rush hour.
La Grange
La Grange costs more than Berwyn, but its downtown is more useful if you plan to spend a lot of your time close to home.
The Metra station sits near restaurants, shops, and other daily needs, and rush-hour service into Chicago can be quick.
For someone who wants a suburb with a downtown that functions as part of daily life, it is one of the stronger options.
Naperville
Naperville can work without a car if you live near downtown or the Metra station.
Outside that area, distances get long quickly.
A listing can be in Naperville and still be several miles from the train, groceries, or downtown. Check the address closely before assuming the town itself solves the transportation problem.
Walk the route before you sign
Weekends are where the differences show up
Metra schedules are strongest around work trips.
Weekend service is often thinner.
If you do not own a car, that means the town itself has to cover more of your weekend needs. Restaurants, coffee, groceries, parks, and basic errands become more important when you are not taking the train into Chicago.
Evanston and Oak Park have the most flexibility here. La Grange and Berwyn can work well too, but the specific address matters more.
Questions renters ask
Can you live in the Chicago suburbs without a car? Yes. Evanston, Oak Park, Berwyn, and La Grange are good places to begin. In other suburbs, the answer often depends on how close you are to the station and daily errands.
Which suburb has the best transit? Evanston and Oak Park. Both have Metra plus 'L' service, which gives you more options outside commuter hours.
Evanston or Oak Park? Evanston has the lake and a busier downtown, usually at a higher price. Oak Park tends to cost less and has two 'L' lines.
If you are planning to stay car-free, check the route from the apartment rather than relying on the town name.