Illinois real estate took a beating this winter, and Chicago is at the epicenter of the housing slowdown. Or is it?

Nestled next to Lake Michigan and home to both the Cubs and White Sox, the Windy City is one of the biggest and busiest cities in the nation.

Chicago Magazine complied a list of the 12 best suburbs in Chicago, comparing the cities based on variables like crime, homes, education and city life.

“The Chicago city market is booming, with extremely low inventory levels and high buyer demand causing bidding wars and fast market times. It’s amazing how much the marketplace has turned from a few years back,” Matt Farrell, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors, said.

Heading into the spring season, “Buyers are ready to move and as homes come on the market, they are aggressively making their best offers,” Farrell added.

“Median pricing is up, signaling a strong market on the rise. As sellers get their homes show-ready for a spring market, we believe these homes, too, will move quickly, if priced right.”

Using the list from Chicago Magazine, we’ve added in the median home price from Zillow‘s February home value index to bring you the 12 best Chicago suburbs:

Cook County

Orland Park $239,700

Named “one of the best places to live” by the magazine.

Northbrook $485,500

Northbrook is updating its Skokie Boulevard Corridor, which will be filled with new stores and apartments.

Wilmette $611,500

Wilmette is now accepting applications for tree planting, helping add to the village’s beauty.

Barrington Hills $732,600

This suburb is home to 10 key historic sites, allowing visitors to take a self-guided tour and see what life was like more than 100 years ago.

Wheaton $293,800

Wheaton just launched a new edition of the “Wheaton Remembers” video series, where Wheaton Community High School alumni recall what it was like to be a high school student in 1960s Wheaton.

Hinsdale $782,700

Located just 21 miles west of Chicago, this city just launched a new “Block Watch” initiative to help protect against crime.

Lake County

Highland Park $473,300

Moody’s Investors Service issued a Aaa rating on the city’s planned general obligation bond issue, affirming this rating on all outstanding debt.

Lake Bluff $558,800

Lake Bluff is the fourth-happiest seaside town as well.

Kane County

Geneva $286,500

This city also the home of Class A minor league Kane Country Cougars, if you’re in the mood for a hometown baseball game.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29384-the-windy-citys-top-12-suburbs