🏡 Hidden Gems: Affordable Chicago Suburbs With Top-Rated Schools (2025 Edition)

Let’s face it: searching for a suburb with great schools and affordable homes is like looking for a parking spot at Trader Joe’s on a Saturday—nearly impossible, slightly dangerous, and always involves at least one passive-aggressive stare. But don’t worry, I’ve done the digging for you! Here’s where you can find straight-A schools, reasonable price tags, and neighbors who’ll actually lend you their leaf blower.

Buffalo Grove Where the school test scores are almost as high as your neighbor’s Halloween decorations.

• Top-Rated Schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Aptakisic Junior High, Tripp Elementary

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $230

• Median Sale Price: $398,000

• Average Days on Market: 37

Buffalo Grove is one of those magical places where you get a great house and don’t have to sell a kidney. Your kids will thrive, and so will your wallet (and maybe your cholesterol, after all the block party BBQs).

Lisle Small town, big school spirit, even bigger garden gnomes.

• Top-Rated Schools: Lisle High School, Schiesher Elementary School, Tate Woods Elementary

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $211

• Median Sale Price: $285,000

• Average Days on Market: 43

Lisle is the kind of place where neighbors might show up with a casserole—just don’t ask what’s in it. Great schools, affordable homes, and enough parks for your dog to finally catch that squirrel (spoiler: he won’t).

Elmhurst For folks who want their kids to ace the SAT and their weekends to be all about pumpkin spice lattes and farmer’s markets.

• Top-Rated Schools: York Community High School, Hawthorne Elementary, Sandburg Middle School

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $322

• Median Sale Price: $615,000

• Average Days on Market: 43

Elmhurst has historic homes, walkable streets, and so many top schools you’ll feel like you live inside a college brochure.

Downers Grove Where everyone knows your name—and your dog’s Instagram handle.

• Top-Rated Schools: Downers Grove North High School, Pierce Downer Elementary, Herrick Middle School

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $250

• Median Sale Price: $459,137

• Average Days on Market: 41

Downers Grove is like Cheers, but with more bike trails and fewer questionable mustaches. Kids get A’s, parents get a sense of community, and nobody gets left out of the neighborhood group chat.

Lincolnshire You might not be able to spell it, but your kids will—after a year at these schools.

• Top-Rated Schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Daniel Wright Junior High, Laura B. Sprague Elementary

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $245

• Median Sale Price: $660,000

• Average Days on Market: 26

Lincolnshire’s schools are so good, even the squirrels get a head start on their college applications.

Long Grove

Where your backyard is bigger than most Chicago apartments—and the kids are smarter, too.

• Top-Rated Schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Kildeer Countryside Elementary, Woodlawn Middle School

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $245

• Median Sale Price: $660,000

• Average Days on Market: 26

Come for the apple cider donuts, stay for the test scores. Your neighbors might have horses. Or just really fancy lawnmowers.

Clarendon Hills Small town, big brains, and enough block parties to keep your calendar full.

• Top-Rated Schools: Hinsdale Central High School, Clarendon Hills Middle School, Prospect Elementary

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $308

• Median Sale Price: $670,000

• Average Days on Market: 25

Clarendon Hills is where everyone waves, kids walk to school, and the ice cream truck takes Venmo.

Kildeer Yes, deer are a thing here—and so is academic excellence.

• Top-Rated Schools: Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Kildeer Countryside Elementary, Woodlawn Middle School

• Average Price/Sq Ft: $231

• Median Sale Price: $765,000

• Average Days on Market: 30

If you want space, serenity, and students who know what “valedictorian” means by first grade, welcome to Kildeer.

The Bottom Line In these towns, you can have your cake, eat it, and pack it in your kid’s BPA-free lunchbox for school the next day. Great houses. Amazing schools. Neighbors who’ll loan you a snowblower and some gossip. Why settle for less?

Sources: Redfin Market Reports (Elmhurst, Lisle)Rocket Homes (Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove, Lincolnshire)Realtor.com (Kildeer)Chicago Agent Magazine (Best Suburbs for Families)School Digger, Niche, GreatSchools for school ratings

Ready to find your perfect home and start living your best suburban sitcom life? Call or text me anytime at 312.882.9797 and let’s go house shopping—bring snacks!