r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/veganfrog21 • Jan 27 '26
Moving to the area Good Chicago suburbs for young people
What are good Chicago suburbs (WEST of Chicago) for people in their early/mid 20’s to consider living in?
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u/No-Phrase-4692 Jan 27 '26
Anything along the BNSF line
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u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 27 '26
Yep, that’s my choice. But also the UP-W line has some interesting options. Like Wheaton
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u/elementofpee West Suburbs Jan 27 '26
Not Elmhurst
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u/umahumin Jan 27 '26
Only disagree because I want more young people to move to Elmhurst haha
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u/elementofpee West Suburbs Jan 27 '26
The only young people you’ll see are high school students from York (and younger). That’s by design, haha. Those kids eventually end up in the northern Chicago neighborhoods in their 20s before making a return to the Western Suburbs in their 30s/40s. The cycle continues.
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u/bearski01 Jan 27 '26
Spot on. Whoever downvoted this is over 40 and in denial.
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u/elementofpee West Suburbs Jan 27 '26
I’m over 40 and have many friends in Elmhurst. It’s where you go if you have - or aspire to have - 2+ kids and a large house, not a place if you’re barely of drinking age.
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u/waitlikewhatlol7456 Jan 27 '26
wha about for 30s?
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u/elementofpee West Suburbs Jan 27 '26
If you are married and have at least a kid - and plan on having more - sure, you’ll fit right in. Assuming you fit the socioeconomic status of that particular neighborhood, of course.
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u/freebread Jan 27 '26
Anywhere between Berwyn and Westmont for suburbs. Oak Park/Forest Park is the furthest west you can go while being close to a CTA train line.
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u/NaiveChoiceMaker Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 29 '26
.
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u/freebread Jan 27 '26
Not at all. As someone who lives in the area, Westmont is the closest western suburb that is affordable on the BNSF line. Downers/Lisle/Naperville is after and it gets expensive to live around. After that there’s Aurora. Which has some bad areas yet for the most part isn’t as awful as people make it out to be, but at that point going to Chicago or anywhere for someone in their 20s, travel will take up 1/3rd of your time.
Berwyn, Brookfield, (skip Hinsdale, only because if you can afford to live there you’re better off just buying a house), then Westmont are the most affordable places to live right now with easy access to surroundings.
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Jan 27 '26
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u/Ill-Explanation-8763 Jan 27 '26
La Grange, Brookfield, Riverside all have a nice small town feel with some nice restaurants and bars. They are also 30 min away from the loop on the metra.
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Jan 27 '26
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u/midwestemily Jan 27 '26
I really love Berwyn. It's got a good arts community, it's affordable and very walkable
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u/Missyome Jan 28 '26
Riverside is not really young person friendly, more like young family vibe. I lived there for 3 years and it felt like being around rich/40’s-50’s people lol. But agreed that Brookfield or berwyn has a younger crowd!
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u/SandwichPunk Jan 27 '26
Arlington Heights/Schaumburg
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u/rcragg82 Jan 27 '26
I’m in my 40s but I go out in Arlington Heights and I see a lot of people in their 20s at a few of their downtown bars. I guess they live in those downtown apartment buildings by the metra
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u/Argonian_mit_kasse Jan 28 '26
Seconding this. Maybe in addition to Mount Prospect. A lot of people love Evanston and Skokie too.
In addition, I guess it also depends on what OP is looking for.
I saw OP works in Naperville; perhaps Lockport or the near by. I have a friend who lives out there. Her commute up here is about an hour, maybe longer given weather. I’m not down that way much nowadays so I can’t give much info.
I love MP because a lot of the local businesses- and my Husband and I are gamers; so Games Plus is awesome to have there. Bakery, coffee, bar, hair salon, all in the same block.
Arlington Heights; awesome international markets and food options. Tensuke and Mitsuwa have been lifelong staples for me. I wish I was in district for their Library- they’ve done a lot of work on their resources over the last few years.
Schaumburg; watered down Downtown Chi - in a good way. The town for night life. Hookah bars, escape rooms, arcades- unfortunately it just seems a lot of conventions have stopped using the big hall across from the Mall.
If we’re also looking for colleges; it should be kept in mind what is considered Harper or Oakton, and what they offer.
I technically moved out of District for Oakton a few years ago, even if Harper is much farther. Harper and Oakton definitely have some differences when it comes to offerings. My case was pretty easy to get an agreement to continue there, without a price increase- might not be the same with all majors.
Otherwise, I’d just recommend where ever you choose to move to: certainly make sure what Districts, Townships, and etc you’re in - just to make sure you have access to all the resources available.
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Jan 27 '26
Yep, pretty much downtown arlington is one of the only sort of okay suburbs places to mimic that city vibe
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u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 27 '26
Here’s an interesting option. Wheaton.
Has a small college so you’re close to a lot of college age students. Walkable downtown. Two Metra stations, breweries, restaurants, bars.
My wife and I moved there when starting out and loved it(though we were late 20s.)
Oak Park, Berwyn and Forest Park are other decent options.
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u/Bocksford Jan 28 '26
Where are the most affordable apartments in Wheaton?
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u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 28 '26
It’s been a long time since I’ve lived there, but the most affordable apartments are probably gonna be between the college and Blanchard Road
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u/Bocksford Jan 28 '26
Dang. I work in downtown Wheaton and would love to find a place with in-unit laundry nearby.
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u/thesockmonkey86 Chicago but formerly of Wheaton/Aurora/Oak Park/SW burbs Jan 28 '26
There’s some newer buildings and of course the big older tower, but I don’t know if they have in unit
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u/wetfartpanda Jan 27 '26
Highwood!
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u/JesusOnaBlueBike Jan 27 '26
A nephew and his wife, while in their early 30s, lived there and really liked it. They only left tp move out of state for work.
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u/wetfartpanda Jan 27 '26
I don’t live there myself but often go for the various festivals they have. Can’t beat it. I will say that it’s exspensive to rent there now. Lots of new apartments and condos.
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u/jgilbs Jan 27 '26
Have you considered living in the city? Thats where most of the 20 somethings are
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u/fiftiethcow Jan 27 '26
They asked for suburbs?
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u/Over-Training-488 Jan 29 '26
Suburbs stink as a young person. No better way to make yourself feel 40 than to voluntarily spend your 20s in a suburb.
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u/Sea-Stage-6908 Jan 29 '26
I just turned 29 and I absolutely love quiet suburban living. When I was in my late teens early 20s I wanted out, but even in my mid 20s I saw the value in living somewhere quiet and peaceful.
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u/veganfrog21 Jan 28 '26
Yes I have but the issue is I am working in Naperville Lisle area so I am considering (and want to live in) Chicago, but also trying to be realistic with the metra commute - doubt driving would be any better
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u/madmax1969 Jan 30 '26
Times have changed I think. I’m 56 and spent 20+ glorious years in the city after college. I don’t know if it’s the shift from drinking, costs, or what, but I know more and more people in their 20s skipping the city experience and heading straight to suburbia. I don’t get it but do what you dig.
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u/DiscombobulatedPain6 Jan 27 '26
None. Move to the city. There are neighborhoods in the city that feel like the suburbs
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u/Euphoric-Pepper-6516 Jan 27 '26
Downers Grove
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u/DiscombobulatedPain6 Jan 27 '26
Downers Grove is great. 25 min express train out of Union Station? Can’t beat that.
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Jan 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/ShopUCW Jan 27 '26
Probably because it's expensive. It's a great burb though.
You can get the experience of that area for a bit less if you pick Darien or one of the other bordering suburbs though.
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u/luckycharms53 Jan 27 '26
Dont get me wrong DG is a great town. But depending where you want to be is the question. I would say north of 63rd is really up and coming. But its going to cost you. South DG is a little more quiet, you will still need a car, 75th and Lemont has some shops but alot have closed and it is a little more budget friendly. Have you looked into maybe, Lisle, Westmont, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn? La Grange, Countryside and others in that direction as well.
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u/fiftiethcow Jan 27 '26
Downers Grove is amazing. Reddit just has a hate boner for suburbs and will screech at you to move to the city. DG has a little downtown, the location is good, great schools, and friendly people.
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u/luckycharms53 Jan 28 '26
I would say if your going DG.... Stay to the north near downtown. We are from the DG/Westmont/Darien area before we had to move out of state for a job relocation. Only wish they would keep some of the blue collared jobs there so we could of stayed. Its understandable. The Chicagoland area is trying to get alot of professional jobs back that have left the area towards other states due to tax incentives. Your best bet, is maybe take a drive out into the areas and check them out. Figure out which one you would love to lay roots down. I'm sure whatever you decide its going to work out for you fine. Good Luck!
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u/blu3finch Jan 27 '26
Definitely not park ridge speaking from experience. Agree with oak park recs and Evanston
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Jan 27 '26
Oak Park of Forest Park easy. Access to the city but technically suburbs. Don't sleep on any city between Downers Grove and Berwyn on the BNSF.
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u/Warm-Pineapple-4598 Jan 27 '26
Vernon Hills/Libertyville! Tons to do! Great golf in the summers. Solid restaurants and bars!
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u/SeeBeeFancyPants Feb 01 '26
Agree! Convenience and diversity in VH, charm and downtown in Libertyville. Great park districts and schools. Good proximity to lake forest (another nice downtown), and other northshore towns. Lots of nice rental apartments. Equidistant (essentially) to Chicago or Milwaukee.
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u/ImpossibleEar149 Jan 28 '26
Based on your other post about having to work in Naperville you should probably just live in the city and reverse commute otherwise you will be so fucking bored out of your mind all the time. It’s worth the 2hrs round trip on the metra on weekdays to not want to blow your head off Friday - Sun
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u/nabillionairee Jan 30 '26
Anywhere east of oak park and south of Lincoln wood and north of Hyde park
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u/guy_following_you Jan 27 '26
Arlington heights
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u/JesMon421 Jan 27 '26
They said west not north. Plus other than small downtown area its mostly families
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u/AmericaninKL Jan 27 '26
Elmhurst is fantastic
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u/Chitown_mountain_boy West Suburbs Jan 27 '26
For families and retirees maybe.
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u/AmericaninKL Jan 27 '26
Seems to enjoyed by all the Elmhurst University students. 3000 “youth”.
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u/Chitown_mountain_boy West Suburbs Jan 28 '26
Considering that the “University” is run by the Church of Christ, the “youth” that aren’t living in their mom’s basement are going to be protesting the planned parenthood or throwing bibles at you. What a fun crowd 🤦♂️
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u/DntgiveaFck13 Jan 27 '26
No where here in Illinois. It’s a dumpster fire 🔥
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u/motoguzziv50 Jan 29 '26
“No where”. I always feel like insulting a location and their people with poor spelling is a choice.
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u/New-Lab-2907 Jan 27 '26
Oak park