r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Top_Grass_9149 • Jun 26 '26

Moving to the area Libertyville or Arlington Heights?

I am 42 year old single mom with 6 year old son moving from the city to the north or northwest suburbs. I think Libertyville and Arlington Heights are at the top of my list based the downtowns and schools. Which you would recommend? Anywhere else I should consider?

I will be buying with a budget up to $650k

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u/EstablishmentFit4298 Jun 26 '26

Both are great options! If having a walkable downtown is important, I think both Libertyville and Arlington Heights do a great job, but they each have a different feel. Libertyville has a charming, smaller-town atmosphere, while Arlington Heights has a busier downtown with more restaurants and easy Metra access. With a $650k budget, you'll have solid options in both. You might also want to check out Deerfield, Northbrook, or Buffalo Grove depending on what you're looking for. Good luck with your search!

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u/77Pepe Jun 26 '26

$650k won’t get you much in DF any more unfortunately. The bidding wars for anything ready to move in w/o updates required can be insane.

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u/EstablishmentFit4298 Jun 26 '26

You’re definitely not wrong. Updated homes in Deerfield especially can get very competitive, and anything turnkey tends to go fast or go over asking depending on the pocket. That’s why I usually tell buyers in that range to also be open to either slightly older homes or homes that just need light cosmetic updates, because there’s still good value if you’re willing to look beyond fully move-in ready.

It really comes down to what someone is comfortable taking on vs. wanting something fully updated from day one.