The 10 Best Suburbs to Commute to Chicago

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 23 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 45 minutes

Only 15 miles from Chicago’s Loop, Skokie, dare we say, has it all. Going to a Cubs game and don’t want to worry about parking? Park at the CTA Yellow Line, transfer at Howard to the Red Line and arrive at Addison in 40 minutes or so. But you don’t have to skip town to enjoy yourself. Skokie’s historic corridor on Lincoln Ave. is cute as pie replete with a hometown theater. In fact, arts and culture do exist in the burbs. See: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Northlight Theatre and the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, and The Illinois Holocaust Museum are all based here. There’s also Westfield Old Orchard, an upscale outdoor mall with everything from Zara to Bloomingdale’s reimagined small format shop. And when it comes to dining, Skokie offers a melting pot of options: hit up Poochie’s for a best-in-class Chicago char burger or hot dog, Libertad for a city-worthy dining experience, or Pita Inn for some cult-favorite, no-frills falafel.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 23 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 40 minutes from Central St., Davis St., Main St.

Evanston is kinda like “Chicago Lite” since it’s highly walkable with lots of restaurants, cafes, shops and a mix of buildings from new mid-rises to historic Victorians on tree-lined streets. It’s definitely got more in common with parts of the city like Andersonville, Lincoln Square or Lakeview than it is to, say, Buffalo Grove (we’ll get to that later)—which makes sense considering the city is directly north of Rogers Park with Lake Michigan as its eastern border. That said, it has its own school district and overall vibe.

Home to Northwestern University, there’s both a sense of collegiate seriousness (the gothic architecture helps) and a liberal, socially conscious spirit. In fact, in 2019, Evanston became the first city to pass a reparations resolution. Only 12 miles from Downtown Chicago, you can easily hop on the CTA Purple line or Metra or, if you dare to brave traffic, take the scenic view on Lake Shore Drive.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 20 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by CTA: 37 minutes from Green Line at Ridgeland

Literally a hop, skip and a jump from Chicago proper, the Village of Oak Park is a very special place for lots of reasons. For one, it’s a Frank Lloyd Wright mecca. The architect’s Prairie School footprint is on display in dozens of private homes and public structures throughout the city. The walking tours are a delightful hat trick for out-of-towners (or, say, friends visiting from the city). It’s also—literature geeks hold onto your pants—the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway, and yes, you can tour the author’s childhood Queen Anne-style home. Historical treasure chest aside, Oak Park is uber family-friendly. Visit the penguins and polar bears at the Brookfield Zoo or get lost at the Galloping Ghost Arcade, the largest video arcade in the U.S.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 32 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 22 minutes on express line

A western suburb 20 miles outside of Chicago on the BNSF Metra Line, Hinsdale feels a bit like Pleasantville. Its robust and historic downtown—featuring more than 100 local shops—means you can park and spend the day hopping from brunch to the salon to coffee to shopping and then meeting up for a dinner and drink. And if you thought all Illinois was flat, a walk around Hinsdale’s rolling hills and woodland will certainly change your mind. Grab your picnic supplies for an idyllic afternoon at one of the village’s many public spaces, like Katherine Legge Memorial Park, located on 52 acres of woodland and replete with all your park needs, including frisbee golf, tennis courts and a sledding hill (come winter, of course). There’s also the community pool to get in your laps, a skate park to practice your ollies and lots more.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 33 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 40 minutes on express line

This small southwestern suburb has made quite a name for itself over the last century. Known in the early 20th-century for its golf courses and country clubs, the town even hosted the 1920 PGA Championship. Today, the city still maintains its affluent status, but the population has transitioned over the years from a white community to predominantly Black. 

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 45 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 40 minutes on express line

This fairly large town approximately 35 miles northwest of downtown Chicago is known for its excellent schools and strong sense of community—easy highway access and public transportation also don’t hurt its reputation. U.S. News & World Report ranks Stevenson High School  as 185th nationally and 7th in Illinois. Though the city isn’t known for a central district, the sprawling town offers plenty of dining, shopping and fun. Visit the wonderful Willow Springs Park for tennis, disc golf, parks and seasonal ice skating rinks and make sure not to miss Buffalo Grove Days, the end-of-summer festival bringing rides, food and live music to town.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 36 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 45 minutes on express line

This charming city is situated along the shores of Lake Michigan, which of course adds to its beautiful natural surroundings. Highland Park is a triple threat, offering highly rated schools, a wonderful cultural scene and a lovely, walkable downtown with boutique shops just blocks from the beach. On summer nights, head to Ravinia Festival for live music, whether you enjoy it in the amphitheater or on the lawn with a bottle of wine and picnic. (Psst: Commuters can hop off the Union Pacific North line inside the park.) You’ll also get to enjoy food truck nights, the highly curated Port Clinton Art Fair and much more.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 36 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 45 minutes on express line

Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the country, the city of 145,000 residents and about 30 miles west of downtown Chicago clearly has a lot to offer beyond its access to multiple train stations and major highways. One of Naperville’s favorite brags is that it has the “amenities of a modern city and all the charm of a small town.” And with its excellent schools, Riverwalk, vibrant downtown and acclaimed library, Naperville certainly delivers on the promise.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 41 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 1 hour

Although Wheaton College is a dry campus, the city of Wheaton has been known for hosting an annual Wheaton Wine Walk and the Wheaton Brew Fest. In fact, this year, they’ve expanded the fest to include seltzer. Among an active community with lots of events, Wheaton is also home to a historic downtown with shops, restaurants and farmers market. As for public space, the town boasts numerous parks and a robust forest preserve district that includes almost 25,000 acres, 31 lakes, 145 miles of trails and 1,450 picnic tables. You can even take horseback riding lessons at the Danada Equestrian Center.

• Commute time to/from Downtown by car: 35 minutes
• Commute time to/from Downtown by Metra: 40 minutes on express train

There’s a lot going on in this southwest suburb, including the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre—28,000-capacity live outdoor music venue—and Tinley Park Convention Center, bringing lots and lots of business into town. As for locals, the city offers a diverse community and affordable housing options, which probably accounts for why the 2020 U.S. Census noted that Tinley Park was one of the fastest growing suburbs in the country. Since its centennial in 1992, the city has been focused on downtown renovation projects including various mixed-use developments like The Boulevard, a new indoor/outdoor brewery and a new plaza right-smack in the center of town.