City-dwelling as a couple is a phenomenal experience. When two become three, toting an infant around restaurants, shops and entertainment venues is relatively manageable. But when babies become toddlers, living in Chicago proper becomes a new, more challenging and more expensive experience.
The coolest part about Chicagoland with a young family? Nearby suburbs give you every bit of the city experience, but with conveniences you can really get accustomed to. The Village of Niles stands out as a welcoming, diverse community — and absolutely worth considering as your new home.
One of the reasons that Niles is so attractive is its close proximity to Chicago and all the city has to offer. Why not have the best of both?
Niles is the right move
Plenty of residents in the Village of Niles sing the suburb’s praises, says Katie Schneider, Community Engagement Coordinator for the village. “Our residents are our biggest cheerleaders! People will tell you ‘I love Niles,’ and truly they have a passion for their town and their community,” she says.
Here, residents are surrounded by culture, food, art, music and family traditions — all values that are rooted in the neighborhoods of Niles and have been for decades. “It’s a fun town with a positive, feel-good vibe,” Schneider says.
A great community just steps away from the border of Chicago sounds expensive. But the Village of Niles is surprisingly budget friendly, thanks to a large retail base.
“The many retail outlets here in Niles keep the property taxes low for our residents. This means affordable housing and high-quality public services,” says Schneider. Community programming offers recreation for families — and teens and seniors, too — to offer a high quality of life for residents.
Because of that financial security, the Village of Niles has a progressive approach to community investments. Village leaders aren’t afraid to look to the next best thing residents want close to home. “We can be more forward-thinking and our residents benefit,” she says.
A family fitness center with indoor aquatic center stays busy, and residents can take advantage of the many fitness programs available. This is where your little ones can learn to swim! There’s even a playroom for your children to enjoy while you are sweating during spin class. Play basketball, volleyball or pickleball in the state-of-the-art gymnasium. All these amenities are right in the village itself, easily accessible year-round.
Easy to get to, easy to get around
When you’re living in the city, it’s tempting to discount even the close suburbs to Chicago as somewhere out there, maybe even closer to the moon. But Niles is highly favored by residents for its proximity to everything they want to do in the city.
For families, this is especially true.
For reference, to the Art Institute, Niles is a mere 15 miles. It’s not much farther to the Field Museum and the museum campus. It’s just 22 miles to the Museum of Science and Industry. The Lincoln Park Zoo is just 13 miles away, and points north in the city are closer still and so easy to access.
Commuting to Chicago for work or entertainment is an easy prospect, too. “Niles is just 15 miles from the city, so a commute to, say, Logan Square might take 30 minutes during morning rush hour,” Schneider says.
Travel around Niles on the free Pace bus, or experience the streamlined service of Pulse, the new rapid transit service between Niles and Chicago. With limited stops and easy-to-find stations and a real-time bus tracker, your family is never far from all the museums, shops, entertainment and restaurants of Chicago.
When you’re ready to return home to cozy village life in Niles, public transportation, your own car or a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft will get you there quickly.
Welcome home to the Village of Niles!
Content sponsored by the Village of Niles. Learn why Niles should be your family’s hometown. Visit loveniles.com.
