Most buyers start with a budget and a list of towns they’ve heard of. A better approach is to decide what your weekday needs to look like, then find the towns that fit it.
Start with the commute
If you’ll take the train into Chicago, the Metra line narrows your list fast:
| Town | Metra line | Station(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Wheaton | Union Pacific West | Wheaton, College Avenue |
| Glen Ellyn | Union Pacific West | Glen Ellyn |
| Winfield | Union Pacific West | Winfield |
| West Chicago | Union Pacific West | West Chicago |
| Naperville | BNSF | Naperville, Route 59 |
| Bartlett | Milwaukee District West | Bartlett |
| Carol Stream | — | Drive to Wheaton, Winfield or Glen Ellyn |
| Warrenville | — | Drive to Naperville, Winfield or Wheaton |
If you’ll drive, look at your route on a weekday morning before you fall for a house.
Then check schools by address
School districts in DuPage County don’t always follow town boundaries. Naperville, for example, is split between District 203 and District 204, and parts of several towns feed into different high schools. Always check the exact property against the district’s boundary lookup.
Know the county
Most of these towns are in DuPage County, but Naperville extends into Will County and Bartlett spans Cook, DuPage and Kane. The county affects your property tax bill.
Match the feel to your life
- Walkable downtown with a train: Wheaton, Glen Ellyn
- Big-city amenities and lots of choice: Naperville
- More home for the money: West Chicago
- Quieter, small-village feel: Winfield, Warrenville
- Central location and newer homes: Carol Stream, Bartlett
[WALKER — add a short personal note on how he helps clients choose.]
Explore each town guide, or talk to Walker about which fits your situation.
