About the Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs, Illinois Area 

Barrington / North Barrington

Residents of Barrington, located 35 miles northwest of the Loop, work hard to preserve their gifts from Mother Nature.

Spanning 95 square miles, the area’s many enticing natural assets include numerous wetlands, woodlands, prairies, rolling hills, lakes and creeks, and the Fox River shoreline.

Seven of the Barrington area villages are members of BACOG (The Barrington Area Council of Governments), an organization formed in 1970 to lessen the impact of development on the ecology of the area.

The central business district in Barrington serves as the “heart” of the Barrington area. Its historic, upscale shops, boutiques and restaurants give it a unique appeal.

Barrington is the more urban of the villages, while North Barrington has a lower residential density and a more rural setting. Both villages, however, have easy access to Chicago’s amenities, and both rank near the top in the Chicago area for household income.

The villages owe much of their present prosperity to golf, namely the well-established Biltmore Country Club and the newer Wynstone course. Both courses have enticed a number of new residents; in fact, the Wynstone locale has been the villages’ greatest area of growth in recent years.

In addition to golf, the Barrington is known for equestrian activity since they were founded by settlers from Great Barrington, MA. Today, there are numerous equestrian estates and more than 120 miles of horse trails.

Most elementary age children attend unit district 220, starting in kindergarten and going through 12th grade. High schoolers attend Barrington High School.

Commuters may take Illinois 59 to the Northwest Tollway (I-90) for a 50 minute drive to the Loop. A drive to O’Hare takes 30 minutes, while Midway Airport is an hour away. Those who wish to ride the train may board it at the Barrington station for a 64 minute trip to the Loop. Bus service is available.

For more information on Barrington click here.

Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove, an active, family-oriented community, located 35 miles northwest of the Loop, has been growing at tremendous rates. Most of the growth has occurred during the past two decades, and it’s easy to see why.

To begin with, community schools have become some of the best public institutions in the state, with elementary students consistently scoring top marks on annual IGAP tests.

Economic growth has increased more than 190 percent since 1972 as a result of the strong commercial and business community in town and in nearby areas. Also the area is scenic as well as affordable.

The community’s 391 acres of parks and three public golf courses are also a big draw, as are park district programs and special events.

The north section of Buffalo Grove is in Lake County and the south section is in Cook County. Its location allows residents easy access to a number of malls such as Hawthorn Center in Vernon Hills, Northbrook Court in Northbrook, Woodfield in Schaumburg and Randhurst Mall in Mount Prospect.

Buffalo Grove’s Lake County elementary students attend districts 102 and 96; Cook County students attend Wheeling district 21. Adlai E. Stevenson High School district 125 serves Lake County teens. Students in Cook County attend Buffalo Grove High School in district 214.

Drivers access the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to the east, and Illinois 53 to the west, which intersects with the Northwest Tollway (I-90). Drive time to the loop is 50 minutes. O’Hare is a 35 minute drive, while Midway Airport is a 70-minute drive. Commuters may board Metra trains in Buffalo Grove for a 45 minute ride to the Loop.

For more information on Buffalo Grove click here.

Elk Grove Village

Elk Grove Village is home to the largest business parks of its kind in North America. This keeps property taxes low.

Residents are proud of their recreational facilities that include the 17-acre Disney Park and Rainbow Falls Park. The well-equipped Pavilion Recreation center has a pool, complete gym, walking track and ball courts.

Much of the village’s original housing, which is mostly three-bedroom ranches is located east of the I-290-Illinois 53, while newer homes are found on the west side. Styles include ranches, split levels and two-stories.

Children attend elementary school districts 54 and 59. District 214 schools have computer and language laboratories.

Convenient location is one of Elk Grove’s main assets, with easy access to I-90, I-290, I-355, Illinois 53 and the Elgin-O’Hare. Drive time to the loop is 30 minutes. O’Hare Airport is 20 minutes away, while Midway is a 50 minute drive. Commuter trains from nearby Itasca reach the Loop in 35 minutes, express and 45 minutes local.

For more information on Elk Grove Village click here.

Hoffman Estates

Residents of Hoffman Estates, 30 minutes northwest of the Loop, enjoy their proximity to shopping and cultural events.

House hunters can choose from ranches, Colonials, split-levels, two-stories and custom-built homes.

Elementary districts 54, 15 and 220 serve the community. Emphasis is placed on the basics of reading, writing and math. Local teenagers attend either Conant, Fremd, or Hoffman Estates high schools in district 211, the largest high school district in the state. Some students attend Barrington High School district 220.

It is a 50-minute drive to the Loop on the Northwest Tollway (I-90). Residents also have access to Illinois 53 and the North-South Tollway (I-355). O’Hare and Midway airports are 25 and 60 minutes away respectively.

Commuters can catch Metra’s Milwaukee District train in Schaumburg, Hanover Park or Bartlett, for a 50 minute trip to the Loop. The ride from Barrington or Palatine takes an hour on the Union Pacific line. There is bus service to local commuter rail stations.

For more information on Hoffman Estates click here.

Mount Prospect

Only 22 miles from downtown Chicago, Mount Prospect is close enough for residents to enjoy the city, but far enough to avoid the problems of urban life.

Property taxes generated by Lake Center Corporate Park, Kensington Park for Business and Randhurst Mall, keep property taxes fairly low.

The Mount Prospect Park District offers more than 250 activities ranging from art classes to sporting events, and sponsors a preschool and before and after school activities. In addition to an outdoor wave pool and an 18 hole golf course.

Besides a core of older buildings dating back to the early 1900s, Mount Prospect has homes from the 1950s as well as newer, custom-built homes.

Most elementary school students attend district 57, although some children go to districts 21, 26, and 59. Most teenagers attend Prospect and Hersey high schools in district 214.

Rand Road (US 12) and Northwest Highway (US 14) are east –west thoroughfares that lead to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). Drive time to the Loop is 50 minutes. It takes about 15 minutes to drive to O’Hare Airport and Midway is a 55-minute trip.

Rail commuters can take the Union Pacific from downtown Mount Prospect to the Loop in 39 minutes express, and 45 minutes local.

For more information on Mount Prospect click here.

Schaumburg

Although Schaumburg is 29 miles from the Loop, it maintains an urbane ambiance that sets it apart from most suburban communities. Schaumburg, with a population of over 74,000, has more than 33 million square feet of commercial, office and industrial development that employ more than 75,000 people.

Woodfield, with nearly 2.7 million square feet of retail space, is the largest enclosed shopping center in the United States.

The large commercial base has an added benefit – there are no municipal property taxes in Schaumburg.

The Schaumburg Park District fills the bill nicely for recreation. It has an indoor water park that features three pools, a whirlpool and sauna.

The east side of Schaumburg borders the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, a huge area that contains miles of walking and biking paths, kite-flying areas, picnic tables and several lakes including a large lake stocked with bass, walleyed pike and other food fish. Boat rentals are available.

The abundant shopping, excellent schools, convenient transportation and good job market continue to attract buyers to the area. The majority of the houses were built after 1970 and a variety of styles are available.

The western edge of the village has seen significant residential growth.

Most students attend district 54, Illinois’ largest elementary school district. A few children go to district 15, which operates 14 elementary schools and 4 junior high schools. District 15’s student achievement test scores in all academic areas are traditionally well above the national average.

Schaumburg High School district 211 in Illinois’ largest suburban high school district. The curriculum offers more than 235 academic, vocational and special education courses, as well as six weeks of summer school.

The Northwest Tollway (I-90) and Illinois 53 (which leads into the I-290 and becomes the Eisenhower Expressway) are easily accessible. The Elgin-O’Hare is an east-west expressway that borders the south end of the community. Drivers wishing to car-pool may dial 793-RIDE for a computerized ride-sharing form. Drive time to the Loop is about 45 minutes. O’Hare Airport is 20 minutes away, while Midway Airport can be reached in about one hour.

Metra commuters may board trains in Schaumburg, Palatine or Arlington Heights. Locals reach the Loop in 50 minutes, while the express arrives in 40 minutes. Pace bus service is available.

For more information on Schaumburg click here.

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