City slickers are putting down roots in Elmhurst, Illinois — where the grass really is greener just outside city limits.
A once-sleepy suburb just west of Chicago is seeing a wave of newcomers — and with them, a fast-moving housing market.
Elmhurst, located roughly 15 miles from downtown, is luring residents with its walkable streets, strong schools and proximity to the Metra train, which delivers commuters to the Loop in under 20 minutes.
“Almost all the people moving in are coming from the city — and they’re ready to spend,” Molly Radoha, a real estate agent who has lived in Elmhurst for more than three decades, told the Daily Mail in an interview.
“Plus, there’s so much new construction and so many homes being built.”
With a median home price around $500,000, the area offers relative affordability for buyers priced out of Chicago’s core neighborhoods.
But prices are climbing quickly.
“We’ve seen a major increase just in the last three years,” Radoha said.
Buyers are often dual-income millennials migrating from Chicago with significant savings or family support, according to Radoha.
“They come out here ready to buy new builds with big down payments,” she said.
That demand has helped fuel a building boom, with new homes listed north of $1.4 million cropping up across Elmhurst.
“You’ll see $400,000 homes right next to three brand-new builds listed for over $1.4 million [each],” said Radoha.
“That’s what I love — every neighborhood is different, and the new construction is really spread throughout the city.”
In addition to the appeal of real estate variety, Elmhurst offers an amenity-rich lifestyle.
The town boasts more than 50 restaurants and 40 shops, a thriving public library that Radoha calls “one of the best in the country” and green space in abundance — nearly 30 parks, including Wilder Park with its tennis courts, manicured gardens and conservatory.
Hikers and bikers take advantage of the Illinois Prairie Path, which runs through the town.
Families are also drawn by the schools. The public high school graduation rate is near 96% and local Catholic schools offer education through eighth grade.
The presence of Elmhurst University adds a college-town feel, and some graduates stick around after finishing school, Radoha noted, citing the town’s easy access to Chicago.
Elmhurst hosts annual events like Rock the Block, which shuts down York Street for food, drinks and live music. During summer weekends, a free trolley connects downtown with South Elmhurst.
“You can hop on, go out to dinner, hit a bar, all without getting in your car,” Radoha said.
The suburb’s location is also a major selling point.
“You can get on any interstate in five minutes,” she said. “The location is unbeatable.”
Elmhurst’s rising popularity even caught the eye of an international art program.
In 2023, the town became the sixth US city to host the Umbrella Sky Project, a Portuguese installation featuring more than 300 colorful umbrellas suspended above pedestrian walkways.
“I always say this might be the best suburb in Illinois — and people are finally catching on,” Radoha said.
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