Elmhurst Overview

Elmhurst, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago that straddles both Cook and DuPage County. Elmhurst is only about 18 miles west of Chicago and is bounded by Grand Avenue to the north, 290 to the east, Roosevelt Road to the south, and Route 83 to the west. Elmhurst is laid out as a large rectangle that is approximately ten square miles with a total population of approximately 46,000. Elmhurst has a median household income of $128,000 and a median property value of $459,000 with over 80% of residents owning their home. This makes Elmhurst one of the most affluent suburbs in the greater Chicagoland area. 

Elmhurst is often known as a quiet, family oriented suburb full of tree-lined streets; however, Elmhurst is home to a bustling downtown area, numerous museums, beautiful parks, and an active and engaged community that takes pride in their town.

Downtown City Centre and Spring Road

Downtown City Centre

Elmhurst’s downtown City Centre offers residents a large selection of restaurants, boutique shops, bars, and services. The downtown City Centre is the heart of Elmhurst which is bound by Virginia Street to the south and continues northbound until North Ave. The downtown City Centre includes multiple public parking garages and decks so residents never have to worry about parking.
In addition, the City Centre allows residents to easily access the Metra’s Union Pacific West line with express service to downtown Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center. In addition to a number of bars, restaurants, and boutique shopping, the City Centre is within walking distance to Elmhurst University, Wilder Park, local museum, and more. The City Centre is host to a number of community events, most notably, the Rock the Block Party which takes place in early September.

Spring Road

Located south of the downtown City Centre and governed by the Spring Road Business Association, the Spring Road business district features bars, restaurants, retail, professional services, and more. The business district is surrounded by tree lined residential homes and populated by joggers and bicyclists from the nearby Prairie Path. The Spring Road business district is home to one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Chicagoland area as well as holiday festivities. For a full list of bars and restaurants located in the Spring Road Business District, check out the Association’s website!

Schools

Elmhurst is home to three different high schools, two private and one public. The two private high schools are Immaculate Conception College Preparatory (ICCP) and Timothy Christian Academy. The public high school is York High School. York High School is one of the best public high schools in the state of Illinois, ranking 36th according to US News & Report.

In addition to the three high schools, Elmhurst is also home to Elmhurst University. Elmhurst University has a student enrollment of approximately 3,000 students and is primarily known for their Nursing program which ranks #319 in the nation. In addition, Elmhurst University is ranked #7 in the nation for Best Value according to US News & Report with a total annual tuition of approximately $42,000. 

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Elmhurst had a total population of 45,786 with 16,476 households with the average household size being 2.69. Over 80% of residents are homeowners with a median home value of approximately $459,000. 

Elmhurst’s age distribution consists of 24.8% being under the age of 18, 6.3% being under the age of 5, and 16.6% of residents being over the age of 65. The remaining 52.3% of residents are between 18-64 with a median age of 40.7 years old. The sex distribution between residents is 50.9% female and 49.1% male.

The median household income as of April 2021 was $123,355 with an income per capita of $63,417, above the US national average. Persons living in poverty as of 2021 totaled 4.1%. The median gross rent as of 2021 was $1,620.

The three largest races and ethnicities in Elmhurst are White, Asian, and Hispanic. The percentage breakdown between the three ethnicities are approximately 80%, 7%, and 5%, respectively. The remaining 8% is made up of Multi-Racial and Black/African-American.

Transportation

Elmhurst is in an almost ideal location for transportation. Residents have easy access to both 290 and 294 which are located just east of Elmhurst’s City Centre. 294 provides residents easy access to Chicago O’Hare International Airport as well as the North side of Chicago through the 294/90 junction. Chicago O’Hare is an easy drive via 294 N, totaling only 11 miles which makes air travel a major convenience for residents. In addition to 294, 290 allows for east/west transportation that allows residents to conveniently commute to both the outer west suburbs and downtown Chicago. In addition to major key highways and close proximity to one of the largest airports in the world, Elmhurst provides residents access to the Metra train located in the City Centre. 

Top Things To Do For Families in Elmhurst

Check Out Wilder Park

Wilder Park is located less than a mile southwest of downtown Elmhurst and is home to the Elmhurst Public Library, Art Museum, Wilder Mansion, and Wilder Park Conservatory. Wilder Park is over 17 acres and features a variety of different amenities including playgrounds, tennis courts, walking/running paths, the butterfly garden, and more.

Eat and Shop Downtown

Downtown Elmhurst is home to different boutique shops, restaurants, and bars all conveniently located within walking distance of one another. From fine dining at Victory Meat and Seafood to Sushi and Ramen at Kan Ya, downtown Elmhurst is home to a wide variety of cuisines. Downtown also features the iconic and classic, 10 screen York Theatre. In addition to food and shopping, downtown also includes two coffee shops, Starbucks and Brewpoint. To see a full list of all shops, bars, and restaurants, visit the Elmhurst City Centre website. 

Visit The History Museum

Just west of downtown is the Elmhurst Art Museum. The Elmhurst Art Museum is 15,000+ square feet and provides visitors and students exhibition and educational spaces. The Elmhurst Art Museum is constantly rotating exhibits that range from modern to contemporary to everything in between. You can check out the current exhibits by visiting their website. The Museum is home to the unique and iconic McCormick House, a single-family home designed by Mies van der Rohe. For only $18 the Elmhurst Art Museum is a fun and family activity!

Get Active At Berens Park

Located about 2.5 miles northwest of Downtown Elmhurst, Berens Park is 65 acres and features sports fields, a running trail, playgrounds, and more. Two of the sports fields also include synthetic turf! Also located at Berens Park is The Hub. The Hub opened in June of 2004 and features a four-station batting cage, 18-hole miniature golf course, and a 6,000 square foot spray ground. The spray ground has nine different features and is even available for private rental. Most amenities at The Hub are seasonal; however, Berens Park is home to a popular sledding hill for the winter months!

 Bike Ride Through the Prairie Path

Located south of the downtown City Centre in the Spring Road Business District,  the Prairie Path is a 62-mile long path for biking, hiking, and jogging. The Prairie Path is an ideal amenity for the athletically inclined. Of the 62 miles of the beautiful Prairie Path, five miles run through Elmhurst which run east and west. According to the Elmhurst Park District, “this biking and walking trail is named for it’s rare segments of original, thousand-year-old prairies, one of which – the Great Western Prairie – right here in Elmhurst”