With new developments surrounding the city’s Metra station, Downtown Mount Prospect has become a friendly place to eat, shop and socialize around 50 minutes from Downtown Chicago. “There’s something for everyone in Downtown Mount Prospect. It’s a family-friendly neighborhood with lots to see and do,” says local Realtor Holly Connors.
Within the central cluster of restaurants on Northwest Highway, residents will find a Downtown Mount Prospect mainstay: Mrs. P & Me. Housed in a nostalgic, Tudor-inspired building, Mrs. P & Me opened in 1977, though its location has a much longer history in hospitality. Originally a saloon established in 1902, Prohibition laws drastically shifted the bar’s offerings in the 1920s. Kruse’s Tavern took over the location after the end of Prohibition and stayed open until the founders of Mrs. P and Me moved in. Residents have a wealth of choices among sandwiches, burgers and wraps, as well as All the Fish You Wish selection every Thursday. For an evening out, visit Emerson’s Ale House across the street for classic American pub fare, including prime rib sliders, cheese curds and buffalo mac and cheese paired with a refreshing brew or a handcrafted cocktail.
Residents can pick up essentials at the local Walmart Supercenter, Aldi or Mariano’s throughout the week. They can also shop local on Sunday mornings at the farmer’s market from June to October, held at the corner of Main Street and Northwest Highway. Organized by the local Lions Club, Mount Prospect residents can support local businesses by purchasing fresh produce, locally harvested honey, baked goods, coffee and more.
A Northwest Metra line station anchors the community, with tracks running alongside the Northwest Highway through the central stretch of Downtown Mount Prospect. Around 45 to 55 minutes from Downtown Chicago, residents can buy a Metra rail ticket or take Northwest Highway to Interstate 90 to get to the city center. Downtown Mount Prospect, with the shops and restaurants surrounding its Metra station, is a destination in and of itself for other nearby suburbs. “It’s a great central hub,” says Compass real estate agent Matt Mika, also a former downtown Mount Prospect resident.
Downtown Mount Prospect parents can take their children to the Westbrook Early Learning Center for prekindergarten through first grade, which earned a B from Niche. For second grade through fifth, children can attend Lions Park Elementary School, which earned an A-minus, before moving on to Lincoln Middle School. Serving grades six through eight and receiving an A-minus as well, Lincoln Middle School offers a wide selection of extracurriculars and electives, including podcasting club, creative writing club, dance team and orchestra.
The local high school is a highlight of the neighborhood. “Prospect High School is one of the top-ranked schools in the state, and it has been for many years,” says Mika. With a selection of Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses Downtown Mount Prospect students can take to earn early college credit, the school earned an A-plus, as well as the National Blue Ribbon School Award from the Department of Education in 2023.
Downtown Mount Prospect streets feature a diverse collection of homes, from ranches and split-levels to Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals. Mature trees shade regularly maintained sidewalks and front lawns, many that boast cheerful flower gardens during warmer months. Single-family homes range between $300,000 and $500,000, while condos usually range between $150,000 and $350,000, many the result of a new downtown development project along Northwest Highway.
The Mount Prospect Lions Club puts on annual Bluesmobile Cruise Nights on Saturday evenings in the Metra commuter lot every May through September, featuring different themes and cars weekly. The Lions Club has also been organizing a Fourth Of July festival for more than 85 years, with food, entertainment and, of course, fireworks.
Downtown Mount Prospect residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy some fresh air. Little league baseball teams play on the three diamonds of Meadows Park, adjacent to the park’s public pool, where residents can cool off on hot summer days. The Moehling Park butterfly garden adds an air of whimsy next to Capannari Ice Cream, named one of the best ice cream shops in the country by multiple national publications.
Kimberly Broznowski Powers
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(773) 466-8951
97 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$470,000 Price
Asish Kurian
Coldwell Banker Realty
(224) 435-4857
19 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$341,000 Price
Donna Locher
@properties Christie?s International Real Estate
(224) 507-1722
25 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$412,000 Price
Jeffrey Padesky
Real Broker, LLC
(847) 241-1543
100 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$377,000 Price
Tina Marie Mateja
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty
(708) 998-4292
153 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$326,000 Price
Holly Connors
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(773) 985-2352
797 Total Sales
12 in Downtown Mount Prospect
$263K - $850K Price Range
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
15 min drive
Train
Mount Prospect Station
Bus
Northwest Hwy. & George
Bus
Northwest Hwy. & School
Bus
Northwest Hwy. & Emerson & Mt. Prospect Metra
Bus
Main & Busse
Bus
Main & Isabella
Bus
Northwest Hwy. & Albert
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Mount Prospect | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Downtown Mount Prospect, Mount Prospect sell after 12 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Mount Prospect, Mount Prospect over the last 12 months is $417,500, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$2,030 - $4,323 per month
$2,035 - $3,103 per month
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Suburban-living 30 miles northwest of Chicago
Top-notch schools are close in this northwest Chicago suburb with fierce loyalty
Residential enclave of Arlington Heights just south of the downtown scene
A mix of single-family, condos and townhouses close to O’Hare Airport
Residential neighborhood a mile south of Arlington Heights
Recreation and retail are close by living in this Arlington Heights neighborhood
