Searching for the best Chicago suburbs to rent an apartment? With many different neighborhoods, hot rental markets, and unique community highlights, it can be challenging to make a major moving decision.
Learn more about the top Chicagoland suburbs to rent and why they’re ideal for apartment living.
Best Chicago Suburbs to Rent: Where to Look for Apartments Outside the City
As an apartment seeker looking to live in the Chicago suburbs, there are a few factors to consider first before moving.
First is your budget to understand how much rent you can afford and the average cost of living. Second is your ideal lifestyle. Do you prefer slower-paced, family-friendly living or want to live close enough to the bustling city to experience the best of both worlds? Each suburb offers unique experiences, so it’s essential to know if the neighborhood suits your needs.
Lastly is the apartment amenities. Do they offer spacious floor plans, pet-friendly policies, or various activities nearby? List the must-have and nice-to-have conveniences you want in your apartment when comparing communities.
Now that you have the main apartment considerations in mind, below are some of the best Chicago suburbs to rent, their top neighborhood highlights, and why they’re worth living there.
Arlington Heights
Located about 25 miles northwest of Chicago, Arlington Heights is a village in Cook County, offering a blend of urban and suburban living. This neighborhood has a historic downtown area with plenty of locally-owned restaurants, artisan shops, and entertainment venues. It also has many outdoor recreational activities, such as hiking at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve, small boat rentals at Lake Arlington, and more.
And if you want to explore the Windy City, it’s only a day trip away with the convenient Arlington Park Metra via the Union Pacific-Northwest (UP-NW) Line. Depending on the floor plan, property, location, and current market rates, the 2025 average apartment rental price in Arlington Heights is $1,834 to $2,560 a month.
Bloomingdale
Located about 27 miles west of Chicago, Bloomingdale is a village in DuPage County, bringing a small-town feel within proximity to the city. The historic Old Town Bloomingdale has vintage and modern retail stores, local businesses, restaurants, and seasonal outdoor festivals, like the popular Septemberfest.
Known for its rural-like landscape, it’s perfect for outdoor, family-friendly activities with water parks, all-age golf clubs, and the 255-acre Meacham Grove Forest Preserve.
Bloomingdale is also close to public transit, with the Roselle Metra station a five-minute drive away and the Chicago O’Hare International Airport about a 25-minute drive. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Bloomingdale is $1,594 to $2,630 a month.
Evanston
Located about 12 miles north of the city in Cook County, Evanston is one of the best Chicago suburbs to rent for many reasons. In addition to its proximity to Chicago, it sits along the stunning Lake Michigan shoreline, offering a unique blend of suburban and coastal living.
The prestigious Northwestern University Evanston lakefront campus is perfect for families of enrolling college students and activities for visitors, like NCAA Division 1 and Big Ten sports events, making it among the most affluent Chicago suburbs.
The downtown Evanson area brings many activities for all ages, like indie bookstores, art galleries, local fashion boutiques, and seasonal events. You can also wind down with multiple lakeside beaches, like Lee Street Beach.
Evanston also has its own Davis St/Evanston Metra station that takes you directly to the heart of downtown Chicago via the Union Pacific-North (UP-N) Line. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Evanston is $1,504 to $3,539 a month.
Glen Ellyn
Located about 25 miles west of Chicago, Glen Ellyn is a village in DuPage County and is truly a suburban getaway. It has 29 parks with beautiful forestry in residential neighborhoods. Glen Ellyn was also voted as 2024’s Best Suburbs to Live in Illinois by Niche for its top-ranking school districts.
In addition to picturesque landscapes, Glen Ellyn has a historic downtown area with award-winning restaurants, vintage boutiques, seasonal outdoor festivals, and public art murals.
Traveling into the city is also convenient, with a Glen Ellyn Metra station via the UP-W Line. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Glen Ellyn is $1,649 to $2,077 a month.
Mount Prospect
Located about 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, Mount Prospect is a recently renovated village in Cook County. Its neighborhood updates include refreshed building facades, planted flower displays, and street-lined banners to support local business and community socializing. Mount Prospect is highly rated for its fire, police, and public service departments with international accreditations.
Mount Prospect has over 400 acres of parks, restaurants, recreational facilities, and retail shops. From four park districts, two golf courses, sports venues, and ice-skating rinks, you don’t need to travel into the city for fun activities. Additionally, there’s a downtown area with community events like seasonal food festivals and free outdoor movie nights.
The Mount Prospect Metra also makes traveling into the city easy via the UP-NW Line. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Mount Prospect is $1,814 to $2,357 a month.
Mundelein
Located about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, Mundelein is a village suburb in the heart of Lake County. It’s perfectly nestled between multiple major cities, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, WI.
It’s known for its quiet suburban lifestyle that’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with lakeside beaches, forest preserves, and golf courses. Yet it’s a hub for working professionals as one of the nation’s most robust areas for commercial and industrial growth. Downtown Mundelein also has seasonal food and art festivals year-round for the local communities.
Mundelein has its own Metra station to travel into Chicago easily via the North Central Service (NCS) commuter rail line. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Mundelein t is $1,429 to $1,612 a month, making it one of the most affordable Chicago suburbs to live in.
Naperville
Located about 35 miles southwest of Chicago, Naperville is a highly-rated suburb in DuPage County. Originally starting as a prairie town to a thriving township, it’s become a go-to place to live for many.
It’s an award-winning community, ranking in the Top 100 Places to Live in 2024 for its tech job opportunities, public education, healthcare, agriculture, and cultural attractions–making it perfect for families. Downtown Naperville was also voted one of the nation’s best suburb downtowns, with hundreds of national stores, independent boutiques, and local dining options.
Additionally, the Naper Settlement is an award-winning outdoor history museum, sitting on 13 acres with educational programs, exhibits, and special events–all free for Naperville residents! Naperville’s Centennial Beach is a unique gem as a seasonal historic stone quarry with zero-depth entry up to 15 ft and activities, including float rafts, volleyball, and grilling stations.
It also has its own Naperville Riverwalk, like Chicago’s Riverwalk, featuring almost two miles of brick paths, outdoor sculptures, and a skate park.
But if you want to visit Chicago, Naperville has its own Metra station to travel into the city conveniently via the UP-W Line. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Naperville is $1,701 to $2,610 a month.
St. Charles
Located about 45 miles west of Chicago, St. Charles is a charming suburb in DuPage and Kane County. It’s a naturally scenic neighborhood with floodplain forests, oak woodlands, and areas with over 130 ft of elevation for striking views of the suburbs. From forest preserves to Japanese gardens and golf courses, it’s perfect for outdoor activities.
St. Charles is also minutes away from the historic downtown Geneva business district, offering ongoing events and community festivals like Geneva Restaurant Week and the seasonal Geneva French Market.
Additionally, the Geneva Metra station is only around a 10-minute drive from St. Charles to travel into the city easily. The 2025 average apartment rental price in St. Charles is $1,656 to $2,883 a month.
Schaumburg
Located about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, Schaumburg is a village in Cook and DuPage County. Originally a small farm community to a thriving economic center, it’s ideal for working professionals as it has the most businesses in Illinois than any city outside of Chicago. It also ranked as the Best Place to Live in Illinois in 2018 due to the high quality of life it offers.
Schaumburg is an underrated suburb with a gorgeous landscape, including acres of natural sanctuaries, outdoor museums, and local meadow forest parks. It’s also a fun destination with the iconic Woodfield Mall and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago.
The Schaumburg Metra connects you to the Milwaukee District West (MD-W) line, taking you to Chicago’s Union Station in about an hour and a half or less. The 2025 average apartment rental price in Schaumburg is $1,623 to $2,414 a month.
Sweet Suburban Chicago Living: Your Dream Apartment Awaits
The Chicagoland suburbs have diverse neighborhoods and living experiences for apartment seekers that can be hard to know where to start and settle. Luckily, we manage the communities listed in all nine suburbs listed above! Let us help you find the perfect place to live.
At TLC Management Co., we own over 30 properties around and within Chicago, offering you local expertise and a streamlined apartment search.
Our award-winning suburban communities offer incredible amenities ranging from:
•Onsite scenic waterfalls and private tree-lined hiking trails
•Award-winning floor plans featuring oversized balconies, windows, and ceilings
•Exclusive bark parks and flexible lease terms
Ready to make your move easier?
Browse our Chicago suburb listings or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com for help finding your dream apartment today!
