From actors to politicians, some of the world's prominent faces first looked on the world in the hospital wards of Hinsdale, Illinois, including the well-known co-owner of the Chicago White Sox, Chuck Comiskey. As one of Illinois' richest neighborhoods it also tops the list of most desirable areas to raise a family.
Charming, idyllic and scenic are the first three words that come to mind when taking a look at Hinsdale, IL
From actors to politicians, some of the world's prominent faces first looked on the world in the hospital wards of Hinsdale, Illinois, including the well-known co-owner of the Chicago White Sox, Chuck Comiskey. As one of Illinois' richest neighborhoods it also tops the list of most desirable areas to raise a family.
Charming, idyllic and scenic are the first three words that come to mind when taking a look at Hinsdale, IL. This town looks unassuming and picturesque; the kind of place to settle down, paint a white picket fence and raise a family of 2.5 kids and a dog. Located in DuPage County, only 20 miles west of Chicago, it's a short express train ride into the city. Who doesn't want to kick back with a morning cup of Joe and read the paper on the way into work? Hinsdale is everything you could want in a wealthy suburb. Whether you are relocating for work or simply wish to keep up with the Joneses, Hinsdale offers an idyllic village feel, quality schools and beautiful homes.
The Price Tag
We recommend you take a deep relaxing breath before looking at price tags. Remember, this town's claim to fame is that it's the wealthiest in the state. It's not hard to believe when house-hunting, either. Hinsdale's cost of living is roughly 92.4 percent higher than the United States average. It still leaves you in the 99 percent nationwide, but not by much. Still, as they say, you get what you pay for, and in Hinsdale, you get magnificence.
One to three bedroom apartments are shockingly comparable to the national average. Once you start moving to single-family homes or townhouses and looking for more space, however, prices jump up significantly. As you pick your jaw up off the floor, consider this: these homes have anywhere from three to six bedrooms, stunning finishes and sit in some of Illinois' most affluent neighborhoods.
Extreme Competition
The rental market in Hinsdale is intensely competitive with few options for apartment dwellers. It's pretty much a house or nothing in Hinsdale. In fact, it is not the most renter friendly area since most of the current listings are geared toward home buyers, not transients. There are, however, some townhomes and condominiums available both for rent and sale. So after making some decisions about how much space you need (not to mention what you can squeeze out of your wallet), your second consideration is how quickly you are willing to commit. Rentals go fast, and if you don't show up ready to sign, you could be in for a long and disappointing search.
Transportation
Without a car, you can spend a lot of time hoofing it from place to place. It is not exactly a walkable area, so be prepared and bring your own vehicle. Locals of Hinsdale generally consider properties located south of Chicago Avenue to be ideal when raising young families. It's close to the center of town, elementary schools and, the metro. Of course, property rentals in Hinsdale vary greatly in price, depending upon which neighborhood they are located in. Keep that in mind when looking for your 'ideal' new home.
Commuters' Paradise
Hinsdale is only 20 miles west of Chicago, making it a short commute by car (or a long, long walk). The Burlington Northern Railroad Metro stops at three stations in Hinsdale, giving you an easy (not to mention inexpensive) alternative to rush hour traffic.
North vs. South: Hinsdale locals recognize two main areas in their city: North Side and South Side. Basically, anything located north of Chicago Avenue is considered the North Side, and anything south of Chicago Avenue is called the South Side.
Ashbury Woods: This townhouse community was originally built in the 1990s. These townhomes are beautiful and have floor plans that range from 1,900 to 2,300 square feet. This neighborhood can be found on Madison Avenue and 58th street.The price tag ranges a bit, depending on the size of the condo and the layout. $$$
Chanticleer: The Chanticleer neighborhood is located around Chanticleer Lane. If you find real estate for rent here, sign immediately. If you blink, it will be gone. The houses are beautiful, unique single-family homes. Most of the listings in this area are for sale, however, not rent. $$$$$
Claymoor:Claymoor is another beautiful townhome complex, though there are also condominiums available for rent and sale. $$-$$$
There are several other housing communities in Hinsdale. All of them share similar features: plenty of floor space, small lots and upscale communities. If you are coming from New York City, San Francisco or another high-cost city, chances are that the price tags won't shock you, but the expansive floor plans might. At least in Hinsdale, when they hit you with an outrageous price, you get more than a closet-sized apartment like you get in some Manhattan high rise buildings.
Hinsdale is known throughout Illinois for its schools. The public high schools are located in District 86, and the elementary schools are all in District 181. The Board of Education releases regular report cards for all of the schools in Hinsdale, detailing performance in areas like: Student achievements; Scores from the state achievement exams; ACT scores; Financial information for the districts; Demographic information about students and teachers. At least with good public schools, you won't be on the hook for tuition, as well. Visit d181.org or hinsdale86.org for an in-depth look at the individual schools and their performance levels.
High Schools
There are two public high schools in Hinsdale: Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South. Both are located in district 86 and serve the students of Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Oak Brook, Darien, portions of Westmont and Willowbrook. The academic standards of both schools are quite high, meaning your kids might hate the hours of homework, but at least they'll be prepared for college.
Hinsdale Central
Found at the corner of 55th and Grant Streets, Hinsdale Central is the older of the two high schools. Students come to this school from Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Clarendon Hills and Western Springs. This school focuses very strongly on academic achievement while providing the student body with plenty of extra-curricular activities, as well. This is an award-winning high school, having won both the National School of Character and the State Schools of Character recognition awards. Students attending this school are encouraged to involve themselves in service clubs, special interest groups and leadership opportunities.
Hinsdale South
Located at 7401 S. Clarendon Hills Road, Hinsdale South serves the communities of Hinsdale, Darien, Willowbrook and Burr Ridge. This school opened in the fall of 1965 and offers almost 300 courses, more than 50 clubs/activities and 28 sports programs. Depending on your children's interests, you might not see much of them for nine months.
Both high schools have excellent reputations and consistently send about 97 percent of their graduating students on to a college or university of their choice. (Hopefully with great scholarships, too.)
Elementary Schools
Of course, quality education starts at the elementary level, and Hinsdale sets a solid foundation with seven different options, though most only accept students from the south side.
Private Schools
No self-respecting, upscale city exists without a few prestigious private schools. There are four in Hinsdale, and between them they cover all grade levels. If public schools and their curriculum choices are a concern, there are other options.
Ultimately, Hinsdale is the suburb of choice outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. The only potential downside to living in this community is the cost of living. When you consider the fantastic schools, the beautiful scenery and the small-town feel of a big city, though, we think you'll agree that this town has it all.
