The Most Diverse Chicago Suburbs
Anyone familiar with Chicago will know that the suburbs can differ wildly – demographics, prices, and atmosphere can change in a matter of streets. We did some research to find out not only what are the most diverse suburbs in Chicago, but which have the best amenities for local residents, including schools, housing, and safety.
We gathered opinions from Reddit and searched through the niche.com list of the most diverse suburbs in Chicago, which is based on multiple public data sources, including the Department of Education, U.S. Census, and FBI.
Without further ado let’s look at the nine most diverse suburbs in Chicago with the best schools, safety, and amenities.
9. Berkeley
Median Home Value: $262,800
Median Rent: $1,145
Berkeley is a small suburb in Cook County that’s perfect for anyone looking for a quiet, peaceful yet open-minded village. There are only 5,116 residents but there is an almost equal demographic split between its Hispanic, Black, and white locals. As a small but mixed town, there’s a friendly, neighboring atmosphere, and Berkeley is rated the 6th most diverse Chicago suburb on niche.com.
Although there isn’t too much going on in sleepy Berkeley itself, the village is right next to Elmhurst, where you’ll find an award-winning downtown. Thanks to the metra station in Berkeley, you can also be at the Chicago loop in 35 minutes.
It has to be said that Berkeley may not have the best amenities for families, with an average rating for public schools and housing. Although York High is listed as an option on niche.com, the boundaries of the school service area end at Berkeley. There are always two sides of the same coin; with less competitive schools, house prices and rent in Berkeley are more than favorable, earning this village a place on our list of the most affordable and safe Chicago Suburbs too.
8. Homewood
Median Home Value: $233,000
Median Rent: $1,156
Homewood is diverse in all meanings of the word. There is a mix of demographics including age, education levels, and ethnicity. As such, the community has a far-reaching range of interests, which are well catered for by the local amenities.
Homewood is home to an ice rink, fitness centers, climbing walls, shopping centers, prairie trails, and children’s activity programs. There is a charming downtown with lots of shops, coffee places, and restaurants to choose from. If you’re the type to get bored, you’ll not only benefit from Homewood’s amenities, but you can also be at the Chicago loop in 35 minutes.
Although Homewood has plenty to offer, it still retains a peaceful small-town feel. Combined with its diverse community, it can be taken as a shining example of what suburban living in Chicago could be. This is perhaps why so many families choose Homewood as an affordable, friendly, and diverse neighborhood to settle down in. The schooling options are highly rated and although Homewood does back into a less safe neighborhood, Harvey, residents say they feel safe in their tight-knit community.
7. Flossmoor
Median Home Value: $308,900
Median Rent: $1,156
Flossmoor is Homewood’s smaller and safer sister town. They sit side by side and share some amenities, like the A-rated Homewood-Flossmoor High School and the Ice Rink. Flossmoor earns its own ranking, as it is comparatively safer, has high-quality amenities across the board, and neighbors onto the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Flossmoor has a cozy population of 9,472 with space to breathe, offering a sparse suburban feel. You can find many unusual, historical, and characterful homes for sale in Flossmoor, alongside more affordable single-family homes, condos, and apartments.
6. Oak Park
Median Home Value: $395,000
Median Rent: $1,475
Oak Park is a large suburb in Cook County and boasts a reasonably mixed population of 52, 233. Although Oak Park has a predominantly white population, locals rate it as being diverse and residents lean on the liberal side.
The short commuting distance to Chicago makes Oak Park popular with young professionals. Its enviable proximity to downtown means some home buyers will find this suburb a little expensive, with median house prices being somewhat higher than the average across Chicago. Still, many say this suburb is worth the price — Oak Park has excellent public schools, a brick-paved downtown packed with vibrant outlets, and is a mere 15-minute drive from the Chicago Loop. The only downside to consider is the risk of flooding that affects a handful of properties in the area, along with somewhat older housing stock.
5. Aurora
Median Home Value: $279,400
Median Rent: $1,228
Aurora is the most populous location on our list of diverse Chicago suburbs and, like Evanston, is technically not a suburb – but it was too good to miss from the list.
This small city of 199, 927 sits snugly on the banks of the Fox River, where the historic buildings and bridges are a sight to behold.
Vibrant Aurora is known for being one of the tastiest places to live on the outskirts of Chicago, with a generous selection of humble but memorable eateries lining up along the river. Many families and young professionals move out to this liberal-leaning and diverse city and more than 60% of the residents are under 44 years old. Aurora has above-average schooling options and you’ll find plenty of acceptable establishments to choose from.
Aurora is on the western fringes of the Chicagoland metropolis – drive much further west and you’ll be in rural Illinois. Aurora is notably surrounded by industry, making it a good option for blue-collar workers. In general, the city is an ideal hometown if you can work locally but it’s getting a little far out from Chicago to commute every day (53 minutes by car). However, the further-out location pays dividends in more affordable house and rental prices.
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