West Chicago suburb known for small-town feel and many parks
Within the western suburbs of Chicago, Westchester is a small, family-friendly neighborhood that is known for its ample amount of parks and green space, as well as its relative affordability. Residents of the area love being close to nature, with several nature preserves bordering the neighborhood and five golf courses being available within five miles. In addition to great parks, residents of Westchester have access to public transportation, like the area's train and bus lines, as well as nearby Interstates which make getting into the city an easy twenty-minute drive. With its unique combination of affordability, convenience and outdoor space, this neighborhood is "A great place to grow up, work or even downsize to later in life," says Kevin Farmar, a Realtor who has been selling homes for the last five years and grew up in the area. Westchester's friendly community spans all ages and cares for one another. "Younger people who are new to the area watch out for older residents," Farmar says. "It's the kind of place where people would give you the shirt off their back and people grow up playing outside and in the parks together."
Hanesworth Park sign in La Grange Park.
Westchester is an inviting suburban community, just 15 miles west of Chicago.
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Relatively affordable homes west in Westchester
With an average sales price of $326,000, homes in this western suburb of Chicago sell for, on average, about $30,000 less than those in the rest of Cook County. Homes here have been built from the early 1900s to today and often offer larger acreages than the surrounding area. Along the neighborhood's quiet, shady streets, residents will find well-paved sidewalks and carefully trimmed grassy lawns. When getting back home for the day, residents can pull into driveways which lead to rear garages positioned behind the homes to conserve horizontal property space. Brick bungalows and ranch-style homes can be found starting just below $300,000 dollars, while, from $400,000 to around $500,000 dollars, traditional-style homes with two levels and four to five bedrooms can also be found.
A beautiful Tudor-inspired home in Westchester.
A Dutch Colonial-inspired Westchester home features a neatly manicured front lawn.
A row of homes in Westchester shows the different styles in the neighborhood.
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Cook County schools nearby
Westchester is fortunate to have five public schools in the area. Younger students can attend schools such as Hillside Elementary and Westchester Middle, which received ratings of C-minus and B, respectively. Proviso West High, which received a C-minus from Niche, provides older students with an education and also offers academic support programs under the Proviso Alternative Learning Opportunities Program. The DREAM, PEACE and Seniors Plus alternative programs all offer students perks like academic credit recovery or smaller class sizes to help keep students on track.
The entrance to Westchester Middle School.
Proviso East High School has a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1.
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Golf courses and nature preserves near Salt Creek
With so many parks in the area, residents of Westchester have their pick of places to go to get outside. Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve offers abundant wildlife as well as savanna, wetland and prairie ecosystems to explore. Just across 31st Street, residents can find miles of paved, asphalt trails to walk or bike along through the forest. The Salt Creek Trail System meanders through various parks, like the Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, and offers residents a quick, easy way to be surrounded by nature. In the winter, Wentworth Park opens up its ice rink for locals to go and enjoy an evening of gliding along the ice and trying to keep balance.
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park is another fun option in the area for those wanting to explore the forest canopy and test their skills via a treetop ropes course. Traveling forty feet off the ground, Go Ape's course features 45 different obstacles and a longest zipline of 553 feet. To practice their swing, golfers can head to any one of several local courses, with Chicago Highlands Club being one of the closest. This club features an expansive golf course as well as a clubhouse, pool and tennis courts.
The Chicago Highlands Club in Westchester offers golf and other amenities to its members.
Wolf Road Prairie Preserve offers acres of land for exploring.
Acres of wooded landscapes can be found in Westchester.
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Westchester-local shopping and dining
Being in the western suburbs of Chicago, residents of Westchester are close to all the conveniences of not just the city, but also nearby neighborhoods, each with their own individual flavors and attractions. Just two miles east, shopping areas in Broadview, such as Broadview Village Square, offer residents options for big-name stores, retailers and other services.
Within the neighborhood, residents can pick up groceries at their local Jewel-Osco, or stop by Thithi's Restaurant for a night of martinis paired with Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Another popular local choice is The Jungle Plate, a family-owned African and Caribbean fusion restaurant serving dishes like Jollof rice, jerk chicken and spicy goat.
For some food with a bit of fun on the side, residents can head to Eden Lanes Bowling Alley, a neighborhood establishment with casual eats and space to hang out, as well as lanes with optional bumpers for those less confident in their bowling.
For everyday essentials, Westchester residents have what they need along U.S. Route 45.
Mother's Day Restaurant near Westchester is a simple family eatery.
In Westchester Jungle Plate is a new establishment offering a variety of delicious options.
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Getting around Chicago's western suburbs
One of Westchester's main highlights is just how easy it is for residents to get around the area. "Residents love that they can end up anywhere in Chicagoland within a half hour," says Farmar. With paved sidewalks, walking and biking throughout the neighborhood is a breeze, and public buses circulate the main arteries of the area to help transport people where they need to go. In addition to nearby train stations, like LaGrange Road, that enable longer-distance travel, residents are connected to the wider area by several local highways, expressways and interstates. Depending on traffic, the fifteen-mile drive downtown along Interstate 290 takes about twenty minutes, while Interstates 94 and 65 take residents to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis. O'Hare International Airport is also just 11 miles north, while the closest hospital is the Loyola University Medical Center, which is three miles to the northeast.
Getting around Westchester is a breeze with the Pace Bus system.
Westchester community events
Community events occur year-round at Westchester Public Library. All-age programs like book clubs, arts and crafts and speakers series give local residents an opportunity to gather and get to know one another.
Summer, in particular, is a popular time for events and get-togethers in Westchester, with one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in the area, outdoor festivals happening and parks holding events like "movie in the park." Every August, Mayfair Park holds a summer concert series on Wednesday nights where local artists perform live music.
A colorful sign welcomes patrons to the Westchester neighborhood's library.
The Westchester Library is the perfect spot to pick up your next good read.
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