Clarendon Hills, IL Area Guide

Clarendon Hills was incorporated in 1923 with a population of under 900 residents, but its layout reflects an even older vision. The village was deliberately designed to resemble Riverside, the landmark planned suburb that Frederick Law Olmsted conceived in the late 1800s. Rather than following the straight street grid common to neighboring communities in Downers Grove Township, Clarendon Hills features long, winding roads that trace the natural contours of the land, giving the village a distinctly park-like character that remains visible today. That intentional design choice sets it apart from virtually every other suburb in the area and shapes how the community looks and feels at street level. The village was incorporated partly to preserve its identity and avoid annexation by surrounding communities, a decision that helped it maintain its unhurried, residential scale over the decades. Prospect Park anchors the center of town, serving as a gathering point that reflects the green, open-space ethos baked into the village's original plan. That sense of place, rooted in Olmsted-inspired design and more than a century of careful preservation, is something newcomers tend to notice almost immediately.

Clarendon Hills offers a welcoming suburban dining scene spread across two main commercial corridors - Ogden Avenue to the north and 55th Street to the south - where residents find a solid mix of neighborhood restaurants and familiar favorites. The village's compact size means that world-class dining in nearby Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Oak Brook is just a short drive away, giving residents easy access to a much wider range of cuisines. Whether you're grabbing a casual weeknight dinner close to home or exploring the broader western suburbs, there's no shortage of satisfying choices within a few miles of Clarendon Hills.

Clarendon Hills is well-served by the Metra BNSF Railway Line, with the Clarendon Hills Station just a half mile from the village center, offering a roughly 35-to-40-minute commute to Chicago Union Station. Additional Metra stops in West Hinsdale, Westmont, and Hinsdale are all within a few minutes' drive. By car, the village sits conveniently between I-294 and I-355, with Ogden Avenue and 55th Street providing easy access to surrounding communities. Chicago Midway Airport is about 24 minutes away, and O'Hare International is roughly 32 minutes by car. The village's winding, Olmsted-inspired residential streets are better suited to driving than walking, though the compact village core near Prospect Avenue and Burlington Avenue is manageable on foot.

Prospect Park anchors the heart of the village, offering a welcoming green space well suited for picnics and relaxed outdoor time. The surrounding neighborhood reflects its Olmsted-inspired design, with winding streets that follow the natural contours of the land and give the entire community a park-like feel. Several DuPage County Forest Preserve properties are within a short drive, including Fullersburg Woods Nature Center and Bemis Woods, both about 10 minutes away, and Mayslake Forest Preserve just 12 minutes out. Lyman Woods Interpretive Center and Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve round out the nearby options, offering trails, wildlife viewing, and natural landscapes across diverse preserve settings.

Rents in Clarendon Hills run slightly above the Illinois state average for one-bedroom units, with one-bedrooms averaging $1,771 per month and two-bedrooms averaging $2,085. The village sits in a middle range among its immediate neighbors - modestly above Hinsdale and Westmont but notably below Oak Brook, which commands significantly higher rents. The housing stock skews toward single-family homes, reflecting the village's Olmsted-inspired residential design, with apartments and multi-family options present but more limited in number.

Clarendon Hills offers a walkable village center where small-scale retail clusters along South Prospect Avenue, Ann Street, and Burlington Avenue, giving residents a convenient and neighborly place to browse and run everyday errands close to home. Ogden Avenue to the north and 55th Street to the south serve as the village's main commercial corridors, with a range of shops and services suited to the community's casual character. For a broader retail experience, Oakbrook Center in nearby Oak Brook is just a short drive away, providing one of the Chicago area's premier destinations for department stores, specialty retailers, and dining.

Clarendon Hills is a compact DuPage County village about 22 miles west of Chicago, distinguished by its Olmsted-inspired design of winding streets and a park-like setting that sets it apart from neighboring suburbs. Prospect Park anchors the village center, multiple DuPage County forest preserves are within a short drive, and the Metra BNSF line delivers downtown Chicago in roughly 35 to 40 minutes.