Elmhurst, IL real estate

Living in Elmhurst

About Elmhurst

Elmhurst is a city located in DuPage County with an official population of 45,671. The municipality offers drivers direct connections to several commercial destinations and transit hubs across the wider metropolitan area. A drive to Oak Brook spans 5.8 miles and takes 17 minutes. Traveling to O'Hare International Airport covers 11.1 miles and requires a 28-minute drive. Commuting into The Loop involves an 18.2-mile drive that takes 58 minutes.

Within the community, notable sites include the Elmhurst History Museum, as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe. The city features 3 distinct neighborhoods, providing residential opportunities with convenient travel routes to major regional destinations. You can examine detailed property pricing, inventory figures, and recent sales trends in the real estate market section below.

Is Elmhurst a good place to live?

Elmhurst covers a land area of 10.2 sq mi within DuPage County. The municipality contains a population of 45,671 residents living across 16,795 households. Reviewing the recorded census data provides clear insight into conditions across this part of DuPage County. Homeownership represents the predominant arrangement in town, reflected in an owner-occupied share of 79.9%. If you examine the residential market, the median home value stands at $545,400. For leased residences in the city, the median rent is $1,975 per month.

Financial indicators for the area show a median household income of $149,644. The physical housing inventory features many established properties, where the median year built is 1966. Daily transportation patterns indicate that you can expect an average commute time of 29 minutes to work. These measurements outline the relationship between local property values, household earnings, and everyday travel demands. You can evaluate these specific figures to understand the housing market, resident investment, and transit commitments in Elmhurst.

Elmhurst at a glance

Elmhurst covers 10.2 sq mi in DuPage County, where 45,671 residents live across 16,795 households. The local housing stock features a median year built of 1966, with an owner-occupied share of 79.9%. The figures below outline key community metrics, including property values, median rent, household earnings, and travel times across the city.

Homes and neighborhoods in Elmhurst

The residential housing stock in Elmhurst reflects several distinct construction eras documented by the U.S. Census Bureau. Properties built between 1940 and 1969 make up the largest overall share, representing 39.9 percent of local homes. Residences constructed before 1940 account for 14.7 percent of the community housing inventory. Homes built between 1970 and 1999 represent 20.6 percent of the total residential structures. Newer construction from the period between 2000 and 2009 makes up 13.6 percent, while residences built in 2010 and later comprise 11.2 percent. These figures are derived from the 2020 through 2024 five-year American Community Survey estimates.

In Crescent Park, you will primarily see single-family homes situated on standard rectangular lots. The housing inventory across this neighborhood includes mid-century ranches, Cape Cods, and split-levels. Alongside these existing homes, you can also observe contemporary two-story infill construction. Properties in Crescent Park typically include either detached or attached garages. In addition, the neighborhood organizes its residential parcels along a modified grid street pattern.

Other recognized residential areas within Elmhurst include South Elmhurst and Yorkfield. Across the municipality, residential ages range from pre-1940 structures to contemporary properties constructed in 2010 and later. This progression across multiple decades gives different local streets distinct structural forms, garage types, and lot layouts throughout the community.

The Elmhurst housing market

The Elmhurst housing market maintained steady price growth across the 12-month period ending in August 2026. The median sold price climbed from $467,000 in September 2025 to $473,000 in August 2026. Inventory moved at a rapid pace through both points of the recording timeline. Homes spent an average of 19 days on the market in August 2026, down from 20 days recorded in September 2025.

Sales volume expanded as closed sales rose from 28 in September 2025 to 35 in August 2026. New inventory contracted slightly over the same timeframe, falling from 41 new listings in September 2025 to 37 in August 2026. The list-to-sale price ratio shifted from 97.6% in September 2025 to 96.0% in August 2026. You can review detailed price trends and monthly sales patterns in the full market report.

Housing stock

Single-family detached homes represent 72.0% of the residential options you will find across Elmhurst. Multi-unit buildings make up 23.2% of the local inventory, while single-family attached residences account for 4.8%. Manufactured housing represents 0.0% of the properties in the city.

Homes built between 1940 and 1969 form the largest share of properties, totaling 39.9% of the community. Residences constructed between 1970 and 1999 make up 20.6%, while structures from before 1940 represent 14.7%. Newer development adds to the neighborhood landscape, with 13.6% built from 2000 through 2009, and 11.2% erected in 2010 or later.

Schools serving Elmhurst

Elmhurst School District 205 serves students in grades PK through 12 as a unified district. Several elementary districts cover grades PK through 8, including Berkeley School District 87, Hillside School District 93, Mannheim School District 83, and Salt Creek School District 48. High school students in those sectors attend DuPage High School District 88, Leyden Community High School District 212, or Proviso Township High School District 209 for grades 9 through 12.

You will also find Elmhurst University located locally for college studies.

Getting around

You can travel across the region by car or by using the Elmhurst transit station. A transit trip to The Loop covers 16.8 miles and takes 47 minutes. Driving the 18.2 miles to The Loop takes 58 minutes.

Travel times to other destinations depend on your mode of transportation. Driving to Oak Brook takes 17 minutes to cover 5.8 miles, while transit takes 54 minutes across 6.1 miles. A drive to O'Hare International Airport covers 11.1 miles and takes 28 minutes. Taking transit to O'Hare International Airport covers 19 miles and takes 82 minutes.

Things to do in Elmhurst

You can spend time outdoors across multiple community parks and trail networks in Elmhurst. Wilder Park offers local park space with walking paths and landscaped grounds for visitors. You can visit Berens Park and Eldridge Park for additional outdoor open space, playgrounds, and athletic fields. Bicyclists and pedestrians can navigate the Illinois Prairie Path, which provides an off-street multi-use corridor through the municipality. The Salt Creek Greenway Trail also runs through the area, giving you another connected route for walking, jogging, and cycling.

If you want to spend time on the fairway, River Forest Golf Course provides local recreation grounds for golfers. For educational resources, books, and quiet workspaces, you can visit the Elmhurst Public Library. You can also watch current motion pictures at Classic Cinemas York Theatre, which hosts regular film screenings in the municipality.

For shopping and everyday errands, Elmhurst Crossing features a central collection of retail storefronts and anchor stores. You can purchase household goods, run weekly errands, and visit commercial service providers in this dedicated shopping center. Together with the municipal parks, golf grounds, and regional trails, these destinations give you numerous activities throughout Elmhurst.

Working in Elmhurst

Healthcare stands as a principal employment sector in Elmhurst. Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital operates as a major employer within the city limits. The facility is part of the Endeavor Health system and provides hospital services locally. If you work in healthcare, this hospital serves as a key workplace destination in the community. Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital contributes substantial professional opportunities to the local economy.

Pros and cons of living in Elmhurst

On the positive side, Elmhurst offers practical access to nearby employment destinations and steady real estate activity. Driving 5.8 miles to Oak Brook takes 17 minutes, and an 11.1-mile drive to O'Hare International Airport takes 28 minutes. In August 2026, homes spent an average of 19 days on the market before selling. Owner-occupied properties make up 79.9% of housing across 10.2 square miles in DuPage County. In that same month, buyers completed 35 home purchases at a median price of $473,000.

On the other hand, highway travel into downtown Chicago and local purchase prices present notable trade-offs. Driving 18.2 miles to The Loop takes 58 minutes, and the overall average commute is 29 minutes. Local home prices reflect a median home value of $545,400, while median monthly rent is $1,975. Inventory can be limited, as shown by 37 new listings posted in August 2026. Because the median year built is 1966, you will also encounter older housing stock.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER.