Glenview

In the past, residents of The Willows used to watch planes take off from a neighboring airbase. But now, the base has been replaced by a golf course, shopping destinations, town homes and single-owner homes. You’ve landed in one of the quietest suburbs of north Chicago. “There’s very little commercial here,” says agent Steve Goodman. “Schools are the main attraction.” Still, you aren’t stranded here. The west end is bordered by Interstate 294, with Chicago Executive Airport a mere 10-minute drive away. Residents can also take Willow Road over to The Glen Town Center, which offers over 50 stores, a movie theater and children’s museum. The airbase’s former control tower has even been integrated with the mall. The layout of The Willows will give you a sense of calm. Curving streets and cul-de-sacs keep the pace slow. You’ll find sidewalks, large shade trees and long streets that allow you to view stretches of lawn. Home prices can vary. You might see a rehab opportunity with a three-bedroom 1950s cottage in the mid $300,000s. But you can also find custom builds from the 1980s or even the 2000s in the $800,000 to $900,000 range. These will tend to have five bedrooms and sprawl across 4,000 square feet. They’re especially attractive to homebuyers who want a bit of architectural flair—they’re contemporary in style, with stone accents and large windows that let in an abundance of natural light. Schools are spread out across the neighborhood, ensuring that you can get access to the high quality education here, wherever you set up home. Willowbrook Elementary is situated to the north, near Willow Park, while Henry Winkelman Elementary is situated in the southwest end. But both have been ranked as some of the best public schools in Illinois. Glenbrook South High School sits near Henry Winkelman Elementary. Major additions and renovations were completed during the 2000s, ranging from a new food court and fitness to more classrooms and an expanded faculty lounge. Not only does Glenbrook South consistently rank high in academic and athletic performance, in 2008 its music program helped the school be named a National Grammy Signature School. The school is also known for having several famous alumni, including Eric Gilliand, who has produced sitcoms based on suburban Chicago families, from “Roseanne” to “My Boys.” Another institution that gives cohesion to The Willows is NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital, which is often ranked as one to the top 15 teaching hospitals in the country. There’s also a retail anchor centered around the Plaza del Prado shopping center. Take care of your weekly groceries at the Jewel-Osco. When you’re in the mood for a fine dining experience, swing by Blufish and put away some sushi. With a few small parks you can escape to as well, The Willows has everything you need to make a home. If you’re a fan of the quiet life, give it a look.

Situated on the southern side of the prestigious North Shore, The Glen offers a prime spot for homeowners to enjoy elevated suburban living. What was once a naval air base for much of the 20th century has evolved into a sought-after planned community at the heart of the village. “A lot of people go for the schools and end up staying there,” says Donna Mundzic, a real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty Partners. Mundzic was a Glenview resident for more than 10 years and has sold homes in Chicagoland for more than two decades. In addition to the local education, Mundzic cites the retail, dining and recreational areas as some of the area’s key draws for discerning home buyers. “It’s a very well-kept area with a hometown feel,” she says. Much of The Glen’s housing is the result of residential development in the area from 1995 onward, when the Naval Air Station Glenview closed and was replaced by multiple development projects. A few residents live in traditionally styled homes and condos from the 1960s and ‘70s, but most residents own townhomes in subdivisions built in the new millennium. Older units range from about $200,000 to $300,000, while newer townhomes and condos start at about $400,000 and go up to about $800,000, with some freestanding townhomes mixed in at the higher end of that range. Single-family homes in a mix of craftsman, new traditional and colonial revival styles start at about $875,000 and go up to $1.5 million or more. Residents of The Glen have a range of public and private education options. Students can start their education at schools within Glenview School District 34, including Westbrook School, which has a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 and holds a B-plus grade on Niche. The A-minus-ranked Glen Grove Intermediate School serves students from third to fifth grade. Attea Middle School also earns an A-minus grade. Older students graduate from the A-plus ranked Glenbrook South High School, which produces a large student variety show each year to showcase talent from across the student body. Private school options include Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, a Catholic school for elementary and middle-level students that earns an A-plus grade on Niche. The Glen Town Center is the shopping and entertainment complex at the heart of the neighborhood, anchored by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Von Maur stores. Residents can find a mix of local businesses and specialty chains nearby to shop for more particular needs. Mundzic points to popular spots such as Apricot Lane and Evereve as personal favorites, and Margo Boutique also offers women’s clothing with a focus on sustainable goods. To the neighborhood’s immediate east, locals can take care of general shopping at Target and Kohl’s locations, with Whole Foods nearby for groceries. Costco and The Home Depot each neighbor the area to the north, while Jewel-Osco and Walgreens are available to the west. For unique dining experiences, 1800 Cut Steak & Sushi offers Japanese dishes in a contemporary, neon- and fire-lit setting, while Eggspresso Glenview backs up its punny name with a broad menu of brunch specialties. Jibek Jolu brings Eastern European dishes to the North Shore in an ornately designed dining room, with booths adorned with imported pillows. Locals can also find familiar favorites such as Ben & Jerry’s, Potbelly and Yard House nearby. The Glen’s premier recreational destination is Gallery Park. Centered at the neighborhood’s core, the 142-acre park offers nearly 2 miles of walking paths, four pickleball courts and four tennis courts, and access to the boat-friendly Lake Glenview. The neighborhood’s smallest residents can enjoy imaginative play at the Little Bear Garden Park and Playground. For golfing enthusiasts, The Glen Club and Glenview Park Golf Club each have 18-hole courses to master, with an additional 9-hole course available at Glenview Prairie Club. Youngsters and fitness-minded grown-ups can also enjoy indoor recreation at Funtopia Active Entertainment in The Glen Town Center, with themed rock climbing walls to ascend, a ropes course to master and more. Residents in The Glen are connected to greater Chicago’s Metra rail system through the Glen of North Glenview station near Lehigh Avenue. Commuters can catch the Milwaukee District North Line to travel from the neighborhood to Union Station. “A lot of people take the Metra to commute to and from the city. In the early mornings and when it isn’t too busy you can get to and from Chicago in about 30 minutes, but you’re looking at closer to an hour when it’s more crowded,” Mundzic says. For local travel, residents living close to the Glen may be able to bike or walk to points of interest, but most will likely need a car for reliable transportation. Residents can take larger trips via Waukegan Road/IL-43 and the Interstate 94 highway to the east or Interstate 294 to the west. Locals can expect a 22-mile drive into Chicago using I-94. For medical emergencies, Endeavor Health Glenbrook Hospital is 2 miles west. Domestic and international flights depart from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 13 miles southwest of The Glen. Residents can find multiple entertainment options close by without having to leave the neighborhood. The Landmark at the Glen cinema shows a mix of mainstream films and international selections, while Color Me Mine and Tipsy Paint each let residents craft their own ceramic masterpieces. A mix of permanent and rotating exhibits fill the spaces of the Kohl Children’s Museum, a local establishment focused on enriching educational experiences for kids 8 and under. “Every so often, the museum brings in the dump trucks and fire trucks for the kids to play,” Mundzic says. The Touch a Truck festival arrives at the museum each spring and lets the young and young at heart get up close with trucks, trains, cranes and more. Mundzic also points to Glenview’s Fourth of July fireworks, held each year at Gallery Park, as another can’t-miss event for residents. ”The Glen Club’s also hosted some pretty big golf tournaments,” she says. In 2023 the course was home to the NV5 Invitational, a Korn Ferry Tour stop for the developmental division of the PGA Tour.