Top 10 Chicago Northern Suburbs

When it comes to great real estate, schools and quality of life, the northern suburbs of Chicago are second to none. With some of the nations top high schools, athletic facilities and shopping, the northern suburbs and north shore can be a great place to raise a family. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 Chicago Northern Suburbs to consider.

#1 Wilmette
A village in New Trier Township in Cook County, Wilmette is arguably the premier northern suburb in a group of tremendous communities. With a population of roughly 28,000 Wilmette has a great mix of small town feel with big city attributes. Sheridan Road in Wilmette is home to some of the most exclusive real estate the greater Chicagoland area has to offer. In 2007, this northern suburb was ranked the seventh best place to raise children in the U.S., according to Business Week.

#2 Lake Forest
Just south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College in 1857. Home to 21,000 residents and a terrific school system, Lake Forest has easy access to downtown Chicago and great beaches for the Chicago summers.

#3 Winnetka
While it may be a tad pricey for some, Winnetka is a beautiful community and is home to New Trier High School, one of the top high schools in the country.

#4 Highland Park
Home to several attractions that include a vibrant downtown shopping area and Ravinia, the summer home for Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many other big name concerts, Highland Park comes in at number four on our list.

#5 Glenview
One of the largest northern suburbs, Glenview is home to over 45,000 people and is home to several major U.S. corporations such as Kraft Foods, Republic Tobacco, Avon and Anixter.

#6 Evanston
Home to Northwestern University, Evanston has a great blend of college town and family atmosphere as well as some fantastic restaurants. It’s also home to the Robert Crown Center, a state-of-the-art ice facility for hockey and other sports and recreation.

#7 Kenilworth
The second most affluent community in the United States, Kenilworth is a small community (2,500) known for its wealth and exclusivity.

#8 Lake Bluff
One of the most northern Chicago suburbs, Lake Bluff provides commuter access to both Chicago and Milwaukee. Lake Bluff was also recently named the 4th Happiest Seaside Town in America by Coastal Living Magazine. You can read more about this Northern burb’ here.

#9 Libertyville
Located five miles west of the Des Plaines River, Libertyville was once home to stars Marlon Brando and Adlai Stevenson.

#10 Bannockburn
Another extremely affluent community in Lake County, Bannockburn is home to numerous beautiful homes with an average value of $1.3 million.