West and Northwest Suburbs
Elmhurst Real Estate Agents from a Veteran-Owned Brokerage
Comparing an older house with a downtown condo or a newer build in 60126? We check the school district, the county, and the house itself before you make an offer.
Living in Elmhurst
Living in Elmhurst
Elmhurst sits on the eastern edge of DuPage County, about 16 miles west of downtown Chicago by the city's count, with a small piece in Cook County. About 45,800 people live here (45,786 in the 2020 census). The town started as Cottage Hill, took the name Elmhurst in 1869, and became a city in 1910.
City Centre and the train
The city calls its downtown City Centre. It runs along York Street and Addison Avenue from Virginia Street north to North Avenue, and the Metra station sits downtown on York Street. The city counts multifamily apartment and condo buildings downtown, along with public parking decks, a movie theater on York Street, and a short walk to Elmhurst University and Wilder Park.
Wilder Park and the museums
Wilder Park sits in the center of town and holds the Elmhurst Public Library, the Elmhurst Art Museum, Wilder Mansion, and a conservatory that's free and open year-round. The art museum displays the McCormick House, a home designed by Mies van der Rohe.
Notable houses
Six Elmhurst properties are on the National Register of Historic Places, including a Frank Lloyd Wright house and two Walter Burley Griffin houses. A January 2026 Patch report says the city's only protection against demolition of a historic home is individual landmark designation.
Elmhurst University dates to 1871, and its Old Main, built in 1878, is on the National Register. Elmhurst Hospital (Endeavor Health) sits at 155 E. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst. The Elmhurst Park District runs the parks, and the Illinois Prairie Path and the Salt Creek Greenway Trail both pass through town.
Trains, buses, and highways
Getting around Elmhurst
Elmhurst has one Metra station, on the Union Pacific West Line at 128 West 1st Street, Elmhurst, on York Street downtown. Pace route 309 runs every day between the station and the CTA Green Line's Austin stop in Chicago, and route 332 links the station with the hospital campus on weekdays.
The city lists I-290, I-294, I-90, and O'Hare Airport among its nearby connections. The city's business districts sit along York Street, Route 83, North Avenue, St. Charles Road, Butterfield Road, and Spring Road. Ride the train from the station closest to the house before you buy.
Check the address
Elmhurst schools
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 serves most of the city, from preschool through 12th grade. York Community High School on St. Charles Road is its only high school, and the district runs three middle schools: Sandburg, Bryan, and Churchville.
A few parts of Elmhurst fall in other districts. The city's education page says children west of Salt Creek attend other schools, and the city names Salt Creek School District 48 among the districts serving Elmhurst. Hillside School District 93 serves the small Cook County piece. Check the district for the exact address before you write an offer.
What buyers and investors see
Older houses, condos, and new construction
A 2026 housing report from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus found that about three of every four Elmhurst homes are single-family houses, and about 80% of homes are owner-occupied. More than 90% of the homes built before 1960 were single-family houses or townhomes. Multifamily buildings made up about 30% of the homes built in the 1960s and 1970s and more than 40% of those built in the 1980s and 1990s.
The age of a building tells you what kind of home to expect. Homes built before 1960 are almost all single-family houses or townhomes. Condos and apartments sit downtown, including One95, a six-story condo building at 195 N. Addison Avenue, Elmhurst. The city has also used its zoning to allow townhomes between City Centre and the single-family blocks.
For veterans and military families
Buying in Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst work runs through our western suburbs specialist, who is also a veteran.
Many Elmhurst houses predate 1960, so we review condition at the first showing. Peeling paint, worn roofs, missing handrails, and aging mechanicals can all come up in a VA appraisal. Catching those items during the search leaves you room to shape the offer.
Downtown Elmhurst has condo buildings, and a VA loan needs a condo building the VA has approved. Check the building before you write an offer. A VA loan can also buy a building with two to four units, as long as you live in one of them, so ask us to watch for one if you want rental income.
Illinois offers property tax exemptions for veterans with a service-connected disability. Most of Elmhurst sits in DuPage County, where you apply through the DuPage County assessment office. The Cook County piece applies through the Cook County Assessor's Office.
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 an Elmhurst rental or multifamily property
About one in five Elmhurst homes is renter-occupied, by the housing report's count, and builders added 768 market-rate rental apartments and 86 rental townhomes between 2013 and 2025. Most Elmhurst homes are single-family houses, so a small investor's search here can include condos, townhomes, and houses along with small buildings.
Read the association's leasing rules before you buy a condo to rent. Then compare the rent for similar units with the tax bill, insurance, dues, and a repair reserve. 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 an Elmhurst home
A pre-1960 house near Wilder Park, a downtown condo, and a newer house on a rebuilt lot all compete for different buyers. Price yours against the homes those buyers will tour the same weekend. 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
Elmhurst buyers often compare Villa Park and Oak Brook next door. We also help clients compare Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and Countryside.
Questions people ask
Elmhurst real estate questions
Which school district serves Elmhurst?
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 serves most of the city, and York Community High School is its high school. Parts of Elmhurst west of Salt Creek and the small Cook County piece fall in other districts, so check the exact address before you write an offer.
Does Elmhurst have a Metra station?
Yes. The Elmhurst station on the Union Pacific West Line sits at 128 West 1st Street, Elmhurst, in the middle of downtown. Pace route 309 connects it with the CTA Green Line.
Can I buy a condo in downtown Elmhurst?
Yes. The city counts several apartment and condo buildings in City Centre, close to the Metra station. Review the association's dues, reserves, special assessments, and rules on rentals and pets before you write an offer.
How does Elmhurst protect historic homes?
Through individual landmark designation, according to a January 2026 Patch report. Six Elmhurst properties are on the National Register, including a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Ask whether a house is a landmark before you plan major changes.
What should veterans know before buying in Elmhurst?
Review condition at the first showing, since many Elmhurst houses predate 1960 and older homes can raise VA appraisal repair items such as peeling paint, roofs, and handrails. 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 Elmhurst 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. Compare the rent from the other units with the taxes, insurance, and repair costs before you write the offer, and check the zoning and permits for each unit.
Start with a conversation
Ready to talk Elmhurst?
If you're buying in Elmhurst, selling a house there, or comparing it with Glen Ellyn and the other DuPage suburbs, send us the address or the budget. We'll talk through the school district, the house's age and condition, the train, and what to check before you make a move.
Or send a note through our contact page.