I Ranked Chicago Suburbs From WORST to BEST In 2025

If you’re house hunting in the Chicago Southwest Suburbs, the choices can feel overwhelming. This ranking of the Top 8 Southwest Chicago Suburbs highlights where you’ll find the best value, family-friendly communities, outdoor recreation, and strong long-term investment potential. This guide helps you match your budget and lifestyle to the right suburb.

If you prefer reading, here are the cliff notes ⬇️

5 Key Points

Affordable Entry Options (Tinley Park & Mokena): Tinley Park offers starter homes with a median price of $315,000 and excellent Metra access to downtown Chicago. Mokena provides a small-town charm, strong schools, and a median price around $400,000, though new construction is limited.

Balanced Communities (New Lenox & Homer Glen): New Lenox has strong school districts, promising 5–7% annual appreciation, and major infrastructure improvements on the horizon. Homer Glen is perfect for outdoor lovers with 1,000+ acres of preserved land and a suburban-rural retreat feel.

Upscale Family Suburbs (Frankfort & Palos Park): Frankfort combines historic charm, top schools, and 13% home value growth, ideal for families seeking upscale neighborhoods. Palos Park delivers privacy and a wooded, retreat-like atmosphere, though commuting options are more limited.

Premium Lifestyle Destinations (Lemont & La Grange): Lemont features a walkable historic downtown, The Forge Adventure Park, and 12.8% year-over-year appreciation, making it a strong long-term investment. La Grange, just 14 miles from downtown Chicago, offers a highly walkable urban-suburban mix, excellent schools, and high demand, though competition drives prices upward.

Choosing The Best Fit: Your ideal suburb depends on budget, commute needs, schools, and lifestyle preferences. From affordable, transit-friendly Tinley Park to luxury, competitive La Grange, every buyer can find the right match in the Chicago Southwest Suburbs.

Hope this was helpful!

John Sintich, Realtor® 

Keller Williams Preferred Realty

708-612-0644