Why Live in Palos Park West
Palos Park West is a neighborhood surrounded by the expansive Palos Forest Preserves, offering residents a unique blend of natural beauty and suburban convenience. The area is known for its outdoor activities, with opportunities for fishing in Horsetail Lake, mountain biking on the Sag Valley Trail System, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The Little Red School Nature Center, a historic one-room schoolhouse, now serves as an educational hub for hikers exploring the 15,000-acre preserves. The neighborhood is also home to top-rated schools, including Palos East Elementary, Palos South Middle, and Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, which boasts a high college attendance rate and a variety of extracurricular activities.
Palos Park West features a mix of housing styles, from brick-sided homes built in the 1980s to Tudor-inspired multi-story houses and custom-built mansions on large lots. The McCord Place Townhomes offer three-bedroom units with attached garages. Residents enjoy a low crime risk compared to the national average, making it a safer place to live.
For shopping and dining, the Orland Square Mall is a short drive away, and local favorites include the Plush Horse ice cream parlor and Francesca’s restaurant. The neighborhood also hosts cultural events at the McCord House Gallery and Cultural Center and performances by the Palos Village Players. Downtown Chicago, with its museums and theaters, is about 25 miles away, though travel time can vary with traffic. Public transportation options include CTA buses and Metra commuter rail service to downtown Chicago. Medical care is accessible at nearby Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and UChicago Medicine Orland Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palos Park West a good place to live?
Palos Park West is a good place to live. Palos Park West is considered very car-dependent and somewhat bikeable. Palos Park West is a suburban neighborhood with a crime score of 2, making it safer than the average neighborhood in the U.S. Palos Park West has 7 parks for recreational activities. It is sparse in population with 0.8 people per acre and a median age of 55. The average household income is $137,072 which is above the national average. College graduates make up 53.9% of residents. A majority of residents in Palos Park West are home owners, with 17.4% of residents renting and 82.6% of residents owning their home. A
local real estate agent serving Palos Park West can help you decide if this neighborhood is the right one for you. Learn more on our
Palos Park West neighborhood guide.
Is Palos Park West, IL a safe neighborhood?
Palos Park West, IL is safer than the average neighborhood in the United States. It received a crime score of 2 out of 10.
How much do you need to make to afford a house in Palos Park West?
The median home price in Palos Park West is $850,000. If you put a 20% down payment of $170,000 and had a 30-year fixed mortgage with an interest rate of 6.74%, your estimated principal and interest payment would be $4,410 a month plus property taxes, HOA fees, home insurance, PMI, and utilities. Using the 28% rule, you would need to make at least $189K a year to afford the median home price in Palos Park West. The average household income in Palos Park West is $137K.
What are the best public schools in Palos Park West?
The best public schools that serve Palos Park West are:
What are the best private schools in Palos Park West?
The best private schools that serve Palos Park West are:
What are the most popular zip codes in Palos Park West, Palos Park, IL?
What are the most popular neighborhoods near Palos Park West, Palos Park, IL?
Are home prices dropping in Palos Park West?
Yes, home prices in Palos Park West are down 16% in the last 12 months.
Home Trends in Palos Park West, IL
On average, homes in Palos Park West, Palos Park sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Palos Park West, Palos Park over the last 12 months is $437,500, up 42% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Median Sale Price
$437,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$530,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$2,875,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$825,000
Median 1 Bedroom Sale Price
$345,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$521
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
41
Median List Price
$850,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
42%