Living in Oak Park, IL
Explore Things To Do, Cost of Living, Top Schools and More

Thinking of moving to Oak Park, IL? Explore our complete guide to living in Oak Park, covering local cost of living, top-ranked schools, job growth and the best neighborhood amenities.

Located directly on the border of Chicago’s West Side, Oak Park is like its own mini Chicago, with a dense concentration of Prairie-style architecture, a deep literary heritage and some of the best urban-suburban accessibility. This vibrant village of 54,109 is known for its tight-knit community and walkability, where you can spend an afternoon strolling past world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright fixtures, catching a tour of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace or wandering under the lush tropical Canopy at the Oak Park Conservatory. While Oak Park is a more expensive Chicago suburb, it’s still easier on the wallet than living in downtown Chicago, and the median home value is $435,621. Paired with the top-notch schools and easy access to Chicago via the Green Line “L” train, it’s no surprise this is a desirable place to live. It is the kind of community where global design history sits right alongside cozy neighborhood coffee shops, boutique bakeries and bustling farmers markets. Oak Park is a magnet for city movers, artists and growing families seeking an inclusive, highly walkable enclave with incredible parks and delicious dining.

Top Reasons to Move to Oak Park, IL:

• Living Up to Its Name: There are plenty of parks in Oak Park! The city is committed to environmental sustainability, which shines through in its spectacular parklands. Escape into the tropical botanical showrooms at the historic Oak Park Conservatory, stroll through shaded gardens with your four-legged friend at Austin Gardens or enjoy open-air plays and picnics at Mills Park. Scoville Park, the village green, sits next to the Oak Park Public Library and features tennis courts and open lawns designed by Jens Jensen. Plus, the Park District of Oak Park maintains dozens of neighborhood parks, community gardens and eco-friendly facilities throughout the village.
• Architecture Abounds: Life in Oak Park is surrounded by living history. Architecture buffs from around the world flock to the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District to see the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio alongside the iconic Unity Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site he designed. Oak Park is also home to the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum, a restored Queen Anne home where the Nobel Prize-winning author was born. There are plenty of galleries to explore in the Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street, too.
• Outstanding Local Flavor: Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District are full of local character, independent shops and incredible dining. Residents love grabbing morning treats at Spilt Milk or Broken Tart, dining outdoors on Latin fusion at Maya Del Sol or catching up over drinks at Kettlestrings Tavern. Hemingway’s Bistro is a classic French spot in the heart of the Hemingway District. The community gathers year-round for popular events like Movies in the Park, the Thursday Night Out dining series and the Oak Park Farmers Market.
• Oak Park Is Family-Focused: Served by Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and the prestigious Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS), local public schools have diverse fine arts programming and active civic engagement. After school and on weekends, kids can soak up the sun at the Scoville Park splash pad, explore the Wonder Works Children’s Museum or visit the Oak Park Public Library for story times, craft activities and educational workshops. Oak Park also has several parks with playgrounds, sports fields and walking and biking paths, like Rehm Park and Longfellow Park, which is set to reopen this fall. Parents love the village’s safe neighborhoods, inclusive community mindset and endless youth programs.
• Getting to the Windy City Is a Breeze: Commuting into downtown Chicago is super simple. Oak Park offers easy transit access with both the CTA Green Line and Blue Line “L” trains running through the village. Residents can also hop on the Metra’s Union Pacific West Line, part of the commuter rail system that serves the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Riders can step out their door and be at Chicago’s Loop or Ogilvie Transportation Center in under 20 minutes, while drivers enjoy quick access to I-290 (the Eisenhower Expressway).