Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights has come a long way from sleepy bedroom community. This village of 77,000 in Cook County now has a genuinely walkable downtown centered on Vail Avenue and Campbell Street, strong public schools, and Metra service into downtown Chicago. New mixed-use developments, a growing restaurant scene, and a revitalized cultural district have given it a personality of its own.

The housing market hits a sweet spot on value. Mid-century ranch homes on quiet cul-de-sacs, spacious split-levels with generous yards, updated brick bi-levels, and new-construction townhomes near the downtown Metra station. The former Arlington Park racetrack site, a 326-acre parcel, is being developed by the Chicago Bears and Churchill Downs into a major mixed-use project that will reshape the village's identity and property values.

Beyond the homes themselves, the park district is one of the most active in the suburbs, the downtown dining and entertainment scene keeps growing, and O'Hare Airport is only about 15 minutes away, which makes it a smart pick for frequent business travelers.

Downtown Arlington Heights has emerged as one of the northwest suburbs' most dynamic dining destinations. Mago Grill & Cantina on West Campbell Street serves elevated Mexican cuisine with a patio that fills up on warm evenings. Tuscan Market on Vail Avenue offers Italian groceries, prepared foods, and a wine bar that has become a neighborhood gathering spot. Palm Court on South Arlington Heights Road is a long-standing special-occasion restaurant with an elegant continental menu.

The downtown entertainment scene has grown with the addition of the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre on West Campbell Street, which produces professional-quality musicals, dramas, and comedy shows year-round. The Arlington Ale House on Vail Avenue is a popular craft beer destination with over 60 taps and a rooftop bar.

Shopping options include the downtown boutiques along Vail Avenue and Campbell Street, the nearby Randhurst Village mall in Mount Prospect, and the big-box retail along Rand Road. The weekly downtown farmers' market, held Saturday mornings from June through October, is a community staple that draws vendors from across the region.

Two Metra stations on the Union Pacific Northwest Line serve the village: the downtown station on Northwest Highway and the Arlington Park station on Euclid Avenue. Express trains reach Ogilvie Transportation Center in about 45 minutes, with frequent rush-hour service.

O'Hare International Airport is roughly 15 minutes away via I-90 (the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), which is a real advantage for anyone who travels regularly for work. I-90 and Route 53 provide expressway access to downtown Chicago, the northern suburbs, and the western corridor.

Pace bus routes serve the village, and the Arlington Heights Road corridor connects to the CTA Blue Line at Rosemont for an alternative transit route to the Loop and O'Hare. Downtown pedestrian infrastructure has improved in recent years, with better crosswalks, wider sidewalks, and bike racks that make car-free errand running increasingly practical.