Just 2 miles from downtown Downers Grove is the small residential pocket of Downers Grove Gardens. Nearby trails, spacious parks and forest preserves bring a sense of serenity to this well-populated slice of suburbia. At the same time, residents remain within walking distance of big box stores, restaurants and other amenities.
Slightly hilly streets in Downers Grove Gardens are lined with white pines and oaks that canopy well-maintained, spacious lawns and a blend of 20th-century homes. Styles include ranch homes, split-levels, new traditionals and bungalows. There is also some new construction dotted throughout the area. Lengthy paved driveways are common, and several lead to one- to two-car garages. Price points range from $260,000 to $680,000. “Downers Grove is a more affordable area compared to surrounding towns,” says Stephanie Kramer, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Experience. “And we have the second lowest property taxes in DuPage County.” Sidewalks are few and far between along the narrow roads, but with very little through traffic, neighbors frequently go for walks and bike rides in the neighborhood.
Stellar schools are another big draw for the neighborhood. “We have a legacy community here, with 38 percent of the district’s staff living in the community,” says Kramer. Students zoned for Community High School District 99 attend Indian Trail Elementary School, which sits on the neighborhood’s southern end and earns an A-minus from Niche. Seventh and eighth graders filter into B-plus-rated O’Neill Middle School. Downers Grove South High School receives an A rating from Niche and some Project Lead the Way engineering magnet courses. There are also over 50 clubs offered, including bass fishing and a K-Pop club.
With Interstate 88 nearby, locals can get to Aurora by taking the freeway for nearly 20.5 miles east. Heading roughly 27.5 miles in the opposite direction will lead to downtown Chicago. The Belmont Metra station provides access to the Green Line, connecting locals to the two city centers. The station is situated 1.5 miles north of the neighborhood.
The Maple Grove Forest Preserve is one of the oldest of its kind in DuPage County. The 80-acre natural area sits just north of the neighborhood’s residential streets. Locals use 1.5 miles of wooded trails for hiking, biking and birdwatching. The pathways also lead to Memorial Park, which is a hub for baseball games, with two diamonds and batting cages. A playground gives kids room to roam. The Southern DuPage County Regional Trail spans the length of the neighborhood’s eastern end and links locals to the inclusive playground at Hillcrest Elementary School, less than a mile away. “We have a very good park district that has everything you would expect,” says Maureen Flavin, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago. “O’Brien Park is on that end of Downers Grove, and in the winter, a lot of people go there for the big sledding hill. There’s also frisbee golf, and park district games are held on their soccer fields.”
Locals can take their pick from several nearby eateries and shopping hubs. Carnivore and the Queen is a popular supper club with a laid-back feel. Next door, Sharko’s BBQ has been serving rib tips and rotisserie chicken for more than 60 years. Outside the neighborhood’s southern edge is a small complex housing a Target for groceries and other everyday essentials. There’s also a Planet Fitness, a Dollar Tree and several ATMs. When making the 2.5-mile drive northeast to downtown Downers Grove, Flavin suggests stopping by Foxtail for Mediterranean food. Pierce Tavern is one of the newer restaurants in the area but has quickly grown in popularity due to its wide variety of cocktails.
Wine walks, flower scavenger hunts and a summer concert series are just some of the events held by the Downers Grove Management Corporation to keep the community connected. “One of the fun things we have each year is the Gingerbread House Contest,” Flavin says. “You decorate them and put them out in your storefront, and then the community votes for their favorite. Friday Night Live and Moose Cruise nights are other big events that feature vintage cars and live music.”
Rafay Qamar
Real Broker LLC
(833) 359-9113
1,070 Total Sales
1 in Downers Grove Gardens
$387,000 Price
April Hieronymus
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate
(224) 970-2400
72 Total Sales
1 in Downers Grove Gardens
$340,000 Price
Carrie Clements
Baird & Warner
(224) 808-4249
61 Total Sales
2 in Downers Grove Gardens
$170K - $281K Price Range
Margaret Peggie Costello
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(331) 259-8434
113 Total Sales
1 in Downers Grove Gardens
$260,000 Price
Edward Pluchar
Keller Williams Preferred Rlty
(815) 552-1410
356 Total Sales
1 in Downers Grove Gardens
$357,000 Price
Jennifer Conte
RE/MAX Professionals Select
(708) 469-4068
173 Total Sales
1 in Downers Grove Gardens
$335,000 Price
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
On average, homes in Downers Grove Gardens, Downers Grove sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downers Grove Gardens, Downers Grove over the last 12 months is $1,012,500, up 25% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
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Long-standing homes and new subdivisions on the west end of Downers Grove
Leafy streets, midcentury homes and sought-after schools in the suburbs of Chicago
A quiet and friendly suburb with daily amenities sitting close by
Highly rated schools, a bustling park system and plenty of amenities nearby
Recreation and schools highlight this neighborhood in the western suburbs
Neighborhood bounded by two highways just west of Chicago
