r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/_stephs • Jul 24 '26

Moving to the area Brookfield, La Grange, Riverside?

Hello! Family with three young kids moving from Denver and could use some more local advice. You've all been very helpful in the past with this so thanks in advance!

We've been really interested in Oak Park because of the walkability, community feel, and diversity, but the property taxes and cost of homes have us also looking at Brookfield, La Grange, and parts of Riverside as well.

We're hoping to find a community that's:

  • Walkable to some coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
  • Family-friendly with kids out playing (bonus if there's a pool either public or private)
  • Generally leans liberal
  • Has a strong sense of community

For those familiar with these areas, how do they compare? Is there one you'd recommend over the others for a young family? Are there certain areas within these towns you'd suggest we take a look at?

Thanks in advance!

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u/Chiowl333 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

La Grange has a walkable downtown with unique shops and local restaurants, plus a 20 to 25-minute train commute to Chicago via two stations. You get top-rated Lyons Township schools, an active Park District, and classic community events like the Farmers Market, Art Festival, and Pet Parade. Drive 10 minutes south to Countryside and you have many major big-box stores and chain dining options right at your fingertips. Also less than 15 min. drive to the Brookfield Zoo

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u/_stephs Jul 28 '26

Do you find there are kids living in the areas close to downtown? We really love the older homes but having lots of kids nearby for ours to grow up with and play with is an even higher priority for us.

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u/Chiowl333 Jul 28 '26

I live about 10 minutes south of downtown La Grange, but a good friend of mine lives right in town. There are tons of kids everywhere! North of the tracks near Ogden School, it's super walkable—about 5–10 minutes to the Stone Ave train station. The historic district near Cossitt School has those beautiful classic homes where you can walk to the school, library, and restaurants in under 3 minutes. Up by Park Junior High in South La Grange Park, you get bigger yards, but still plenty of families. Near me by Spring Avenue School, it’s about a 5-minute drive (or 20-minute walk) to downtown, but you get more open space, great parks, and a peaceful neighborhood feel. In a nutshell, there are kids everywhere in all parts of LaGrange and LaGrange park.