West and Northwest Suburbs
Buy, Sell, or Invest in Bartlett with a Veteran-Owned Brokerage
Weighing a 1990s house in a Bartlett subdivision against a condo near the Metra in 60103? We check the county line, the U-46 school assignment, and the house itself before you write an offer.
Living in Bartlett
Living in Bartlett
Bartlett grew up around a train depot. Luther Bartlett donated land for a station on the Chicago and Pacific line in 1873, the village incorporated in 1891, and that 1873 depot still stands as the Bartlett Depot Museum. About 41,100 people live here now (41,105 in the 2020 census), on almost 16 square miles.
The village sits in three counties. Most homes north of Devon Avenue and east of Route 25 are in Cook County, homes south of Devon Avenue and east of Route 25 are in DuPage County, and homes in Bartlett Pointe West are in Kane County. All of downtown sits in Cook County.
Downtown and the depot
Downtown is where the village started in the 1870s. Village hall, the chamber of commerce, the Arts in Bartlett Center for the Arts, the post office, and the Depot Museum all sit there, and the Metra station sits on Railroad Avenue. The village adopted a transit-oriented plan for downtown in 2016.
The subdivisions
Most of Bartlett went up in the late 20th century. Census estimates in a 2025 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning profile put the median home's construction year at 1992, with about half of the homes built between 1980 and 1999 and another fifth built since 2000.
Parks, golf, and open space
The Bartlett Park District runs Villa Olivia, with golf in summer and skiing and tubing in winter, along with Apple Orchard Golf Course, Barracuda Bay Water Park, and the Bartlett Community Center. The village owns Bartlett Hills Golf Course. James "Pate" Philip State Park sits on Stearns Road, next to Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve, and the village counts 19.6 miles of bike paths.
Route 59 is the village's main north-south road and commercial corridor, with the largest retail area at Route 59 and Stearns Road, Bartlett. Brewster Creek Business Park, a former gravel quarry, holds more than 75 businesses.
Trains and highways
Getting around Bartlett
Bartlett's Metra station sits at 120 E. Railroad Avenue, Bartlett, on the Milwaukee District West Line, about 30.1 miles from Chicago Union Station. The village runs 13 commuter lots there. Metra rebuilt the station and opened the new one in 2007.
Lake Street (US 20) runs along the village's northern edge, Route 59 runs through the middle, and Army Trail Road runs along the southern edge. The village lists I-390 one mile east and I-90 four miles north. Ride the train or drive the route from the house at your normal commute hour before you buy.
Check the address
Bartlett schools
School District U-46, which the village lists as Elgin Unit 46, serves Bartlett from preschool through 12th grade. The village calls it the second-largest public school district in Illinois. Bartlett High School sits at 701 W. Schick Road, Bartlett, and some Bartlett students attend South Elgin High School instead.
U-46 assigns schools by address, and Bartlett is one of 11 communities it serves. Check the exact address with the district before you write an offer.
What buyers and investors see
Newer homes, condos, and townhomes
The same 2025 profile counts about 86% of Bartlett's homes as single-unit houses, a category that includes townhomes, and about 4% in buildings with two to four units. Owners occupy about 88% of the homes. Only a small share of the housing predates 1940, and most of those older homes sit near downtown.
Downtown has the most variety. The village's 2015 downtown study describes single-family homes to the north and west, some on large lots, and condos, townhomes, and apartments to the south and east. Town Center on Railroad Avenue has loft units and 72 condominiums, and nearby communities include Asbury Place townhomes, Bartlett Green four-plex units, and Hearthwood Farms condominiums.
Away from downtown, most homes date from the 1970s on. A house from the 1980s or 1990s can be due for a roof, a furnace, or windows, so ask for the age of each system when you tour.
For veterans and military families
Buying in Bartlett with a VA loan
Dorazio Real Estate is veteran-owned, and our managing broker is a former U.S. Army officer and West Point graduate. Our Bartlett work runs through our western suburbs specialist, who is also a veteran.
Most Bartlett homes date from 1980 or later. We still review condition at the first showing, since a worn roof, an old water heater, peeling paint, or missing handrails can come up in a VA appraisal. Catching those items during the search leaves you room to shape the offer.
A VA loan can also buy a building with two to four units, as long as you live in one of them. Bartlett has a small number of those buildings, so ask us to watch for one if you want rental income. Bartlett's downtown condo buildings need VA approval before a VA loan can buy in them.
Illinois offers property tax exemptions for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher, and you apply through your county. That means the Cook County Assessor's Office, the DuPage County assessment office, or the Kane County Assessment Office, depending on which part of Bartlett you buy in.
Our VA loan page covers the benefit, the appraisal, and buying a 2-4 flat. If PCS orders bring you here, our relocation concierge can tour homes for you by video before you arrive.
For investors
Buying a Bartlett rental or multifamily property
About 4% of Bartlett's homes sit in two- to four-unit buildings, and renters occupy about 12% of the homes, by the 2025 profile's count. Small multifamily buildings are rare here, so expect to compare townhomes, condos, and single-family houses as rentals.
Read an association's leasing rules before you buy a condo or townhome to rent, and check which county the property sits in, since the county sets the tax bill. For a building with two or more units, our multifamily investment analysis covers the rent roll, operating expenses, cash flow, financing scenarios, and value-add potential before you commit.
Our multifamily and investment property page covers 2-4 flats, larger buildings, and house hacking with a VA or FHA loan. We also help investors buy mixed-use buildings, fix and flip projects, and furnished rentals. Read our property management page to see what our sister company manages.
For sellers
Selling a Bartlett home
Half of Bartlett's homes were built between 1980 and 1999, so a buyer may tour several homes of the same era in one weekend. Updates to the kitchen, roof, windows, and mechanicals set yours apart. Price it against the homes those buyers will tour, and gather permits and improvement records before the photographer arrives.
Start with a free comparative market analysis for your address. When you list, we can add a measured 2D or 3D floor plan, and our photo prep guide walks you through getting each room ready.
See how our listing agents price a home for its first weekend and get it ready before it goes live.
Comparing towns
Nearby areas we serve
Bartlett buyers often compare Streamwood, Hanover Park, South Elgin, and Wayne next door. We also help clients compare St. Charles, Barrington, Wheaton, and Glen Ellyn.
Questions people ask
Bartlett real estate questions
Which county is my Bartlett home in?
It depends on the address. Most homes north of Devon Avenue and east of Route 25 are in Cook County, homes south of Devon Avenue and east of Route 25 are in DuPage County, and Bartlett Pointe West is in Kane County. The county sets your tax bill and handles exemptions.
Which school district serves Bartlett?
School District U-46 serves Bartlett. Bartlett High School is on Schick Road, and some Bartlett students attend South Elgin High School. Check the exact address with the district before you write an offer.
Does Bartlett have a Metra station?
Yes. The Bartlett station sits at 120 E. Railroad Avenue, Bartlett, on the Milwaukee District West Line, near downtown.
Are there condos and townhomes in Bartlett?
Yes. Downtown has the Town Center condominiums on Railroad Avenue, Hearthwood Farms condominiums, and Asbury Place townhomes, and townhomes sit in other parts of the village too.
What should veterans know before buying in Bartlett?
Ask for the age of the roof, furnace, water heater, and windows at the first showing, since worn systems can come up in a VA appraisal. Dorazio Real Estate is veteran-owned, and we flag those items while you still have room to shape the offer. For a condo, confirm that the VA has approved the building.
Can I buy a multifamily property in Bartlett with a VA loan?
Yes. A VA loan can buy a building with two to four units as long as you live in one of them. Those buildings make up a small share of Bartlett's housing, so plan on a longer search and compare the rent with the taxes, insurance, and repair costs.
Start with a conversation
Ready to talk Bartlett?
If you're buying in Bartlett, selling a house there, or comparing it with St. Charles and the western suburbs, send us the address or the budget. We'll talk through the county, the school assignment, the house's systems, and what to check before you make a move.
Or send a note through our contact page.