Western Springs

Ridgewood is an established suburb in the village of Western Springs, offering a residential enclave of wide, sidewalk-lined streets just south of Downtown Western Springs. “You really can’t beat the people here,” says Amy Avakian, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and a member of the Village Board of Trustees. “Everyone looks out for each other. It’s a nice, close-knit community in a quaint town, and there’s proximity to the Metra train and Interstate 294 for people commuting to Chicago.” Located about 18 miles west of Chicago, Ridgewood includes traditional, single-family homes just north of the modern Timber Trails subdivision. Ridgewood is an established neighborhood with single-family homes dating back to the mid-1900s, while Timber Trails is the newest addition to Western Springs and features a mix of single-family homes and townhomes built from 2008 to the early 2020s. “Timber Trails used to be a golf course, and there’s a nice walking path throughout the neighborhood,” Avakian says. Split-level and ranch-style homes are common in Ridgewood, with prices ranging from around $480,000 to $675,000, depending on the size of the home. Homebuyers in Timber Trails can find four-bedroom new traditional homes with attached garages and open floorplans for about $965,000 to $1.4 million. Two-bedroom townhomes in the subdivision start at around $615,000. Children in the neighborhood attend the Lagrange Highlands School District No. 106, which has an average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Kids begin their education at the nearby Highlands Elementary School before moving on to Highlands Middle School, both of which earned an A from Niche. Teens attend Lyons Township High School, which earned a grade of A-plus and boasts two campuses: a South Campus serving freshmen and sophomores, and a North Campus serving juniors and seniors. The high school partners with the Technology Center of DuPage to offer students career and technical education courses in fields such as health science, education and STEM. Clubs include the award-winning, student-run radio station known as WLTL, which offers students the chance to gain hands-on experience with production, podcasting and more. Both the Ridgewood and Timber Trails subdivisions are anchored by a neighborhood park. Ridgewood Park features a basketball court, soccer field, ballfield and a playground for kids to explore. The park’s paved trail is also a popular spot for walkers, runners and bikers. Timber Trails Park includes 5 acres of green space with a jungle gym, baseball diamond and soccer field. Residents are also near several golf courses and country clubs, including La Grange Country Club. Locals are about 2 miles south of Downtown Western Springs. This walkable, retail hub is centered around Hillgrove Avenue and includes upscale Italian restaurants like Davanti Enoteca and casual American eateries like Hillgrove Tap. “Hillgrove Tap is a great local place to grab a burger. There are also a ton of restaurants with little outdoor café areas,” Avakian says. Locals gather at Kirschbaum’s Bakery for homemade pastries, and the family-owned spot is a staple in the community that’s been operating since 1953. With the Quarry Shopping Center about 3 miles from Ridgewood, residents can quickly run errands at Aldi, Walmart and Target or catch a movie at the AMC Quarry Cinemas. Ridgewood is bordered by Interstate 294 and residents are about 18 miles west of Chicago. The Metra BNSF station in Downtown Western Springs also provides service to Chicago, making several stops along the way. The Chicago Midway International Airport is about 10 miles away. The Ridgewood Civic Association hosts several community events, including an annual progressive dinner where residents socialize over drinks, dinner and dessert. Locals also frequent monthly gatherings like the Women’s Social, Men’s Third Thursday and Ridgewood Book Club. Ridgewood is less than 2 miles from the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange hospital, which includes a Level II Trauma Center.

In 1923, a cash prize was offered to anyone who could think up a name for a new neighborhood being founded west of Wolf Road in Western Springs. “Fair View Gardens” and “Elms” rose to the top as contenders – but in a last-minute turn of events, developers went with Forest Hills. Poetic and picturesque as the name suggests, living in Forest Hills is a source of pride for residents. “When I think of Forest Hills, I think of a walk-to lifestyle,” says Realtor Bryan Bomba with @properties, referring to communities where you can walk to most basic amenities. There’s a twist, though, because these communities are often associated with urban settings – but suburban Forest Hills found a way to pull it off. “You get that interconnected urban lifestyle, but the houses are on big lots and have impressive street presence,” Bomba adds. It's not uncommon for houses to sit on lots that approach a quarter acre, and homebuyers can expect many of them to be stately, Bomba says. For example, there are eclectic styles like Mediterranean homes from the 1930s with terra cotta roofs and lion statues at the front door. Inside, the layout is equally eye-catching but still timeless, with features like a chef’s kitchen, French doors and built-in bookshelves. Homes like this can go for $1 million in the neighborhood. But the admirable aspect of Forest Hills is the diversity of housing stock and prices. There are minimalist midcentury ranches with dressed-down interior features ready to be fixed up. A house like this in Forest Hill can go for $345,000. For those who don’t prioritize a yard or have plans to renovate, the townhouses in Forest Hills can be an appealing option. These properties represent the middle range in prices, with many coming in at $750,000. Interiors feature modern appliances and unique floor plans with spiral staircases, Palladian windows and soaring ceilings – common hallmarks of their 90s construction date. High ranking schools are a big draw. Forest Hills Elementary is centrally located and easy to reach by foot for those who choose to take the neighborhood’s grid-like streets. The school enrolls 300 students, and has a connection with community organizations such as Blue Moose, which comes to the school to teach kids basic sports and teamwork skills. It earns an A from Niche. Mcclure Junior High has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns an A as well. Lyons Township High has an extensive sports program, which includes a badminton and water polo team. It earns an A-plus. There’s a bit of nature near Forest Hills Elementary, with Flag Creek running by and the neighborhood’s namesake park offering seven acres of green space. The real outdoor jewel is Spring Rock Park, a 40-acre expanse with mature shade trees and numerous athletic facilities, like basketball courts and lighted tennis courts. A splash pad, playground and cluster of little league fields keep kids active, too. A pavilion with a barbecue pit overlooking soccer fields brings neighbors together. The Western Springs Water Tower can be seen in the part of the park near Burlington Avenue, a path which residents can take when in search of dining and entertainment. Locally owned bakeries, cocktail bars and restaurants make up the scene. Salerno’s Pizzeria for example serves up Italian favorites like vodka pasta and margherita pizza in a dim setting with dark wood furnishings. By taking 47th Street a few blocks east, residents can reach Garden Market Shopping Center, which features a Walgreens and a Mariano’s grocery store. Hot eats in the form of pizza and bagels are available at small eateries as well. Interstate 294, also known as the Tri-State Tollway, runs along the west end of Forest Hills, giving residents a direct connection to one of the most convenient transportation routes in the region. But like the locals say, you may just want to walk everywhere – Forest Hills is designed for that. Commuters can hop on a train at the Western Springs station for broader excursions.

About 20 miles west of Chicago sits the suburb of Western Springs, where Old Town North is tucked into the corner of major thoroughfares in the neighborhood’s northwest corner. Here, families live an almost idyllic lifestyle in a neighborhood centered around an elementary school, sprinkled with green spaces and bordered by a collection of local shops and businesses. There’s a Metra stop in the neighborhood, making it an ideal location for commuters. “People who live here don’t often leave,” says Western Springs resident Amy Avakian, who’s sold real estate in the area for nearly 20 years. “People will add on to their homes because they love the neighborhood so much that they don’t want to move.” Old Town North has a stunning selection of single-family homes, from Victorian-inspired estates with sprawling front porches, American Foursquares and Tudors to midcentury bungalows and 21st-century traditional-style homes. Homes here sit on well-sized, neatly kept lawns where sidewalks are shaded by mature trees. The neighborhood’s rich architectural variety adds character and culture to the neighborhood: when no two homes look quite alike, buyers can find a style that is uniquely theirs and best suits the needs of their family. Homes here sell quickly, after an average of 12 days on the market, while the national average is 42. Prices here start around $500,000 for a three-bedroom bungalow and sometimes exceed $1.5 million for a large new build or recently renovated home. The overall median price in Old Town North is about $800,000. Students in Old Town North attend John Laidlaw Elementary School and McClure Junior High School, both of which received A ratings on the educational review site, Niche. Then, they continue to the Lyons Township High School South Campus for their freshman and sophomore years and the Lyons Township High School North Campus for their junior and senior years. Lyons Township High School received an A-plus on Niche, and in 2023, its graduating class earned a collective $16 million in college scholarships. Parents interested in private education can send their children to the nearby Hinsdale Adventist Academy, a preschool through twelfth-grade school that received an A on Niche and was ranked the fourth-best Christian high school in Illinois on Niche in 2024. Small neighborhood green spaces like Sereda Park, Laidlaw Park and Veterans Memorial Park mean many Old Town North residents are only a short walk away from a playground, and the 40-acre Spring Rock Park just south of the neighborhood offers additional space and amenities. Families come here on weekends for kids’ soccer games, and siblings stay engaged with the park’s large playground. Adults enjoy the park’s walking path and tennis courts, and the park is currently raising money to build a pickleball center. For additional recreation opportunities, residents head to Western Springs Recreation Center on the southwest corner of Old Town North, which offers programs like fitness classes, summer tennis camps and early childhood care. North of the neighborhood, residents head to Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve for hiking and birdwatching, and golfers enjoy the nearby Meadowlark Golf Course, a public nine-hole course. Kirschbaum’s Bakery and Casey’s Market anchor a charming shopping and dining district Residents dine along Hillgrove and Burlington Avenue, enjoying Italian at Davanti Enoteca and craft brews at Hillgrove Tap. “The downtown area is super cute,” Avakian says. “Kids love the smiley face cookies at Kirschbaum’s Bakery, and there’s a bunch of cute boutique shops and this amazing deli called Casey’s that everyone goes to for frozen meals and deli food.” A Whole Foods just across Interstate 294 gives residents access to additional groceries, and for retail shopping, they head four miles south to Quarry Shopping Center, a strip mall with an extensive selection of retailers, including Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club. Old Town North is located along the intersection of Interstation 294 and U.S. Route 34, about a 30-minute drive or hour-long Metra ride from Chicago, and a station in the neighborhood makes Old Town North popular for commuters. “It’s a really easy commute location,” Avakian says. “If you’re taking the train to the city, the most it can be is an eight-block walk [to the station].” The neighborhood is designed with Laidlaw Elementary in the center, parks throughout and businesses along the neighborhood’s borders. “Of all the Western Springs neighborhoods, you get the most walkability with Old Town North,” says Realtor Bryan Bomba, who’s sold real estate in the area for 26 years. The closest hospital is less than two miles outside the neighborhood, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale. Old Town North is about a 20-minute drive from O’Hare and 25 minutes from Midway. Old Town North is home to the Theatre of Western Springs, a performing arts theater that has put on plays for children and adults since 1929. The space is a true cornerstone of the neighborhood, encouraging a rich cultural upbringing of all residents by hosting acting classes and camps for thespians of all ages.

Field Park, a neighborhood in Western Springs, is filled with longtime residents and lasting homes. “People stay in the area,” says Realtor Amy Avakian, who grew up in the neighboring Hinsdale and has worked in and around Western Springs for 17 years. “Once they get into Western Springs, they might move around the neighborhood, but they never leave.” Field Park residents live in a range of homes, including Tudor Revivals from the early 1900s and new traditional houses from the 2010s. Students attend Western Springs School District, rated A by Niche, and can play at Field Park after school. Locals can walk to downtown Western Springs, which is less than 1 mile away and has, as Avakian says, “a restaurant for every taste.” They can also catch the Metra to Chicago and explore the city, which is about 20 miles away. Mature trees separate the residential roads from the sidewalks that are broken up by driveways. Manicured lawns are decorated with bushes, trees and gardens and offer as much variety as the homes in the neighborhood. Early to mid-20th century properties, ranging from Colonial and Tudor Revivals to bungalows and farmhouses, sit among new traditional houses with Tudor, Queen Anne or colonial influences built between the 1990s and 2010s. Homebuyers can find a three-bedroom for between $575,000 and $715,000. Four-bedrooms typically fall between $775,000 and $850,000, although new and renovated builds can cost upward of $950,000. The Hill of Western Springs is a condominium complex that opened in the southwestern part of the neighborhood and offers two-bedroom units ranging from $675,000 to $850,000, depending on the square footage. Field Park is part of Western Springs School District No. 101. “All of the schools are amazing,” Avakian says. Students can start at Field Park Elementary School before attending McClure Jr. High School, both of which receive an A from Niche. Lyons Township High School, which scores an A-plus and is the only school in its district of the same name, offers a teaching internship class to juniors and seniors interested in education. Enrolled students lead activities and help with lesson plans at local elementary schools, earning real-life experience and college credit. Field Park, the neighborhood’s namesake, is next to Field Park Elementary. After school lets out, Avakian says the kids will explore the playground or play a game of basketball. Northeast Park is on the other side of the neighborhood, with pickleball courts that Avakian describes as “hugely popular.” Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park is about 2 miles away inside the Bemis Woods, part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. “The kids love it,” Avakian says. There are different challenge levels so that the entire family can have fun. They can also visit the Western Springs Tower Museum, less than 1 mile from Field Park. The former water tower now features a children’s museum and displays highlighting local history. With downtown Western Springs less than 1 mile from Field Park, people can walk to local restaurants, stores and boutiques. They can eat dinner at Salerno’s Pizzeria and R. Bar, which serves Italian food, enjoy tacos and enchiladas at Guac N Tacos and order dessert from Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store. Kirschbaum’s Bakery is a community staple. “Everyone loves their smiley face cookies,” Avakian says. Residents can get groceries from Casey’s Market and The Fruit Store or travel less than 1 mile to Mariano’s Grocery Store in Garden Market Plaza. Quarry Shopping Mall features Walmart and Target, and Home Depot is located about 4 miles away. Every summer, locals attend the Gathering on the Green in front of the historic water tower, where they can enjoy live music, food and family-friendly festivities. The Western Springs Park District hosts community events throughout the year, including a movie night and the Halloween Bash and Chili Cook-Off. “It’s a really active district,” Avakian says. Locals can walk to the Western Springs Metra Station, less than 1 mile away, to ride 45 minutes into Chicago. Passengers can also take the train to the Chicago Midway International Airport, about 10 miles away, which offers nonstop service to 75 U.S. and 11 international destinations. People also drive themselves and can access Interstate 294, which is about 2 miles away. Field Park is about 2 miles from two medical centers: the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth in Hinsdale and La Grange. Both offer several overlapping services, including emergency and pediatric care. Hinsdale specializes in mother and baby care with an accredited maternity program and birth center, while patients visit La Grange to treat chronic and non-healing wounds.

About 20 miles west of Chicago, Springdale sits in Western Springs and paints an idyllic picture of suburban living. “This is a highly valued area and there are a lot of old trees creating a shady canopy over the streets,” says Bryan Bomba, Realtor at Bryan Bomba Group servicing the greater Hinsdale area. “People from the city regularly seek it out because it’s a walkable lifestyle that's not too much of a departure from the city. People can walk to a coffee shop or the train, and there are sidewalks to push a stroller around.” Residential homes sit on quiet, storybook-setting streets, neighbors are often seen out playing with their children or walking their dogs and top-rated schools, restaurants, city parks and country clubs surround the locale with convenient accessibility. Springdale’s residences are largely comprised of eclectic ranch-style homes, including those with contemporary facades, brickwork exteriors, as well as raised ranches and two-story ranch homes with overhangs. Additional architectural influences include cottages, Cape Cods, New Traditional and Tudor Revival, with attached garages and oversized windowpanes. The yards are neatly kept, and the trees along the sidewalks create an overhead canopy and a tree tunnel over the curved, residential streets. A single-family home with three bedrooms may list for around $700,000, while a five-bedroom residence can fetch around $1 million. Smaller homes that are 1,000 to 2,000 square feet can be priced between $400,000 and $600,000. Springdale is served by LaGrange Highlands School District 106 and Lyons Township High School District 204. Area students may begin schooling at Highlands Elementary School and continue to Highlands Middle School, both of which have an A Niche score. Lyons Township High School is rated A-plus and, in addition to traditional academic curriculum, offers coursework in fields of applied technology, art, business and consumer sciences. The neighborhood’s namesake park, Springdale Park, has a playground, basketball and tennis courts and ball fields for residents to play and exercise. Nearby, slightly to the north, is Spring Rock Park with 41 acres of woods and open fields. In addition to sports facilities and athletic fields, the park also has a butterfly garden, a BBQ area and an inline skating rink. Springdale is also surrounded by numerous country clubs, including La Grange Country Club, Chicago Highlands Club, Ruth Lake Country Club, and Edgewood Valley Country Club among others. These private facilities often feature golf courses, swimming pools and tennis or racquetball courts. Those looking for adventure may explore Go Ape Zipline Chicago, an outdoor park with treetop crossing challenges, Tarzan swings and ziplines. Residents may shop for groceries at Mariano’s or Jewel-Osco. About several blocks to the east, big-box retailers, including Target and Walmart, and local restaurants are on Joliet Road. Popular eateries include Texas Roadhouse, a classic steakhouse with southern décor, and Casciani's Pizzeria, which serves old-fashioned pizza and sausage sandwiches. Blueberry Hill Breakfast Café is locally renowned for its pancake stacks. Additional dine-out options are also by South La Grange Road, including Hacienda Cocula Restaurant and Ledo’s Pizza. About 7 miles to the north, Oakbrook Center is a popular outdoor mall with 180 department stores, shops and dining options. The Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) railway and Metra both have train stops in Western Springs. Interstate 294, also known as the Tri-State Tollway, is nearby for navigating into O'Hare International Airport, which is about 18 miles to the north. Downtown Chicago is approximately 19 miles east and can be accessed via Interstate 55. “This isn’t the far suburbs, so people go into the city regularly for entertainment,” Bomba says. “It’s 25 minutes to Chicago. There are also expressways or non-typical routes as well.” University of Chicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange is right by Springdale, with additional hospitals located within 5 miles of the neighborhood. Winter Wonderland celebrates the winter holidays with music, hayrides, holiday crafts, a petting zoo, food and a hot chocolate stand. Additional events in Western Springs include trick-or-treating for Halloween, the Fire Association Annual Pancake Breakfast, a fall festival, French Market in the summer months and Jammin' in July Concert Series.