Once known as a humble railroad town, the Elmhurst of today is a far different community than the upstart town named after its distinctive elm trees. Sitting about 18 miles west of Chicago and 10 miles south of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, this suburban community is a sought-after residential hub with homes for every taste, distinctive shopping options, an acclaimed school system and straightforward connections to the Windy City.
Elmhurst is a rural suburban neighborhood in Illinois.
Elmhurst is home to many small local businesses.
Elmhurst is conveniently near O'Hare International Airport.
Willowbrook High School's one of the top rated schools of Elmhurst.
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Upscale Elmhurst homes increase in value
The median home price in Elmhurst is $575,000, which is slightly higher than the median for Chicago and the rest of the country. And some larger, more luxurious homes can rise up to $2.8 million. “People get scared by the higher prices, but when you look at the five-year outlook, you can justify them,” says Kevin Layton, a broker with L. W. Reedy Real Estate who has sold homes in the Chicago suburbs for more than 7 years.
New traditional homes are popular in Elmhurst.
Mid century family homes are some of the most common homes in Elmhurst.
Duplex homes in Elmhurst are rare available.
Modern farmhouse style homes are becoming increasingly popular in Elmhurst.
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Real-world experience in top high school
Elmhurst Community Unit School District No. 205 serves the city’s youngest students. The district earns an A-plus grade overall and includes eight elementary schools and three middle schools, all of which individually earn B-plus or higher grades. Older students go to York Community High School, which earns an A-plus grade on Niche. Kids enrolled in the Food and Restaurant Management class handle operations for La Brigade Restaurant, an on-campus eatery that hosts regular luncheons.
Private schools in town include Immaculate Conception Grade School, a Catholic school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school recently celebrated its 125th anniversary and gets an A rating from Niche. The high school level IC Catholic Prep earns an A-plus grade. Elmhurst University, a Christian liberal arts college, earns a B-plus grade. According to U.S. News & World Report, popular majors at the university include business administration and management, registered nursing, psychology and visual/performing arts.
Field Elementary School has 399 students in Elmhurst.
York Community High School in Elmhurst has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst has a student to teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst excels in academics and extra curricular activities.
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Something for everyone at Wilder Park
The Elmhurst Park District maintains 30 parks around town. Wilder Park, the city’s first public park, features a botanical garden with more than 12,000 flowers, grasses and other plants. Other attractions at the park include the Elmhurst Public Library and the Wilder Mansion, a historical estate that can be rented out for weddings and other events. On the south end of town, Butterfield Park is home to the city’s first sensory-friendly playground. Cyclists and hikers can venture through several of Elmhurst’s parks by following the Illinois Prairie Path, a former rail line converted for recreation and spanning 61 miles across the Chicago suburbs.
Butterfield Park in Elmhurst is a great place to get away from it all.
The Wilder Mansion is a historical estate in Elmhurst.
Wilder Park, the first public park in Elmhurst features a conservatory.
The Elmhurst Public Library is a great place to get work done.
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Union Pacific West connects Chicago commuters
Elmhurst residents are about 18 miles west of downtown Chicago. Connections to Interstate 290, North Avenue/State Route 64 and Butterfield Road/State Route 56 are available for long-distance travel, while York Street and St. Charles Road are key thoroughfares for local trips. In addition to car trips, locals can also commute into Chicago with the Metra Union Pacific West line; trips to and from the Loop area of downtown Chicago take about an hour during the morning and evening rushes.
The city’s primary option for emergency care is Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital, located on the south side of town near York Street and Roosevelt Road/State Route 38. The hospital landed on the Fortune/PINC AI Top Hospitals in 2024, a ranking of the top hospitals in the country based on publicly available Medicare data.
For travel beyond the Chicago area, Chicago O’Hare International Airport is about 10 miles north of the city.
Charming shops and distinctive dining along York Street
The core of Elmhurst’s shopping scene is Elmhurst City Centre, the main drag of shops and businesses surrounding York Street, Park Avenue and First Street at the heart of the community. Visitors can find several womens’ clothing boutiques alongside distinctive shops, breweries and restaurants. Everyday shopping options are also situated around town, with Chicagoland fixtures like Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s available and national retailers such as Walmart, Whole Foods and Walgreens.
Many of Elmhurst’s popular dining spots are close to the City Centre area, including Sweet Circle, a doughnut shop offering its pastries with unique varieties like mango tajin and Biscoff. Under its original name, Hello Donut, the shop was recently featured in an article in Eater Chicago.
Elmhurst craft beer enthusiasts head to Beer on the Wall for a new unique experience.
Big box stores are peppered throughout Elmhurst.
Elmhurst residents have a number of choices where to shop for groceries.
The shopping scene of Elmhurst is concentrated in the City Centre Plaza.
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Local businesspeople embrace the silly at St. Patrick's Day parade
The Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade regularly draws locals by the thousands since the first event more than 25 years ago. The festivities include more than 80 floats, performances from local musicians, dance troupes and the Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra, a kazoo marching band led by some of the city’s lawyers, bankers and business leaders. Other seasonal celebrations include the Art In the Park festival at Wilder Park, the Music at the Gazebo summer concert series at Wild Meadows Trace on Spring Road, the weekly Elmhurst Farmers Market held from June to October and an annual tree lighting in Wilder Park.
Elmhurst celebrates the season at the Tree Lighting in Wilder Park.
At Elmhurst Farmer's market you can shop for crisp, fresh vegetables from local growers.
Works by Igor Menaker are exhibited at Art in Wilder Park in Elmhurst.
A woman tosses a necklace to some kids at the annual Elmhurst St. Patrick's Day Parade.
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Important things to know
Most areas in Elmhurst hold scores of 3 or lower on the CAP Index, indicating a below-average likelihood of criminal activity in the area. According to the Elmhurst Police Department’s annual report for 2023, the city’s total crime rate decreased by 13% from 2022. Residents near Interstate 290, State Route 83 or other major roads in town may also experience higher noise levels.
Some areas in Elmhurst, particularly near Salt Creek on the west side of the city, may have higher flooding risks according to the First Street Foundation’s Risk Factor index.
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