West and Northwest Suburbs
Glen Ellyn Real Estate Help from a Veteran-Owned Brokerage
Choosing between a Foursquare near downtown, a mid-century ranch, and a townhome in 60137? We check the elementary district, the Glenbard high school, and the house itself before you make an offer.
Living in Glen Ellyn
Living in Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn sits in DuPage County between Wheaton to the west and Lombard to the east, with Carol Stream to the northwest. About 28,800 people live here (28,846 in the 2020 census). The village's 2023 comprehensive plan says Glen Ellyn has little open land left to build on, so new homes come from teardowns and redevelopment.
Downtown and the train
Downtown sits on both sides of the Union Pacific West tracks, and the National Register lists it as two historic districts, one north and one south of the tracks. The Metra station is on Crescent Boulevard, the Illinois Prairie Path runs through, and the village is planning a new station with a pedestrian underpass.
The older neighborhoods
The village's preservation pages describe the neighborhoods around downtown as single-family homes in styles from Queen Anne and Folk Victorian to American Foursquare, Craftsman bungalows, Prairie, Tudor Revival, and the mid-century ranch. Many have front porches, rear garages, and mature trees. The Main Street Historic District is on the National Register, and the village has landmarked more than forty properties.
Lake Ellyn and the parks
Lake Ellyn Park covers 28.7 acres around a man-made lake from 1889 and is on the National Register. The village runs Village Links, a 27-hole public golf course, along with Panfish Park and Lambert Lake Nature Preserve south of Roosevelt Road. Churchill Woods, a 255-acre DuPage County forest preserve on the East Branch of the DuPage River, sits in Glen Ellyn too.
College of DuPage has its main campus in Glen Ellyn, on Fawell Boulevard. Stacy's Tavern, an 1846 stagecoach inn at Geneva Road and Main Street, Glen Ellyn, is on the National Register, and the Glen Ellyn Historical Society gives tours by appointment.
Trains, buses, and highways
Getting around Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn's Metra station sits at 551 Crescent Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, on the Union Pacific West Line, 22.4 miles from Ogilvie Transportation Center. The village is planning a new downtown station with a pedestrian underpass and hasn't set a construction start date, so ask about the schedule if you're buying near the tracks.
Interstate 355 runs along the village's eastern edge, and Roosevelt Road (Route 38) connects to it. Pace routes 301, 714, and 715 run along Roosevelt Road. Ride the train from the station closest to the house before you decide.
Check the address
Glen Ellyn schools
Two elementary districts serve Glen Ellyn. Glen Ellyn School District 41 runs Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Churchill, and Forest Glen elementary schools and Hadley Junior High, and its graduates go to Glenbard West High School on Crescent Boulevard. Community Consolidated School District 89 runs Arbor View, Park View, and Westfield elementary schools and Glen Crest Middle School, and its students go to Glenbard South High School on Butterfield Road.
Both high schools belong to Glenbard Township High School District 87. District 41's southern boundary follows Roosevelt Road (Route 38), so the address decides both the elementary district and the high school. Use Glenbard's school boundary search for the exact address before you write an offer.
What buyers and investors see
Older homes, teardowns, and townhomes
The village's 2023 housing assessment found that about 21% of Glen Ellyn's homes were built before 1950 and 57% between 1950 and 1989. Single-family homes make up about 72% of the housing, attached and detached together. Between 2011 and 2021 the village recorded 148 demolitions, and builders replaced many of those houses with larger ones.
For a buyer, that means three choices. You can buy an older house near downtown with a porch and a rear garage, a mid-century ranch, or a newer house built on a teardown lot. The village's assessment names condos and townhomes as the homes that appeal to downsizers. Attached homes sit near downtown, along Swift Road and St. Charles Road, north of College of DuPage, and near Roosevelt Road.
If you're looking at an older house as a teardown, check whether it's a local landmark first. The village's Historic Preservation Commission reviews landmarks, and landmark status can come with tax benefits for rehabilitation.
For veterans and military families
Buying in Glen Ellyn 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 Glen Ellyn work runs through our western suburbs specialist, who is also a veteran.
About one in five Glen Ellyn homes was built before 1950, 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.
Glen Ellyn has condos in its multifamily 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, though Glen Ellyn has few of those buildings, so expect a short list.
Illinois offers property tax exemptions for veterans with a service-connected disability. Glen Ellyn sits in DuPage County, so you apply through the DuPage County assessment 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 a Glen Ellyn rental or multifamily property
The village's housing assessment counts 1,580 multifamily rental units in Glen Ellyn, clustered downtown along Pennsylvania Avenue, near Roosevelt Road and Park Boulevard, and near Roosevelt Road east of I-355. Buildings with two to four units make up about 2% of the housing, so a small multifamily building here is a rare find.
With so few small multifamily buildings, expect to look at single-family homes, townhomes, or condos as rentals. Read an association's leasing rules before you buy an attached home to rent, and price any property against the tax bill, insurance, 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 a Glen Ellyn home
A Craftsman bungalow near downtown, a ranch that a builder might see as a teardown lot, and a townhome near Roosevelt Road all compete for different buyers. Decide which buyer you're pricing for, then price against the homes that buyer 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
Glen Ellyn buyers often compare Wheaton next door and Lombard to the east. We also help clients compare Elmhurst, Naperville, and Bartlett.
Questions people ask
Glen Ellyn real estate questions
Which school district serves my Glen Ellyn address?
Two elementary districts serve Glen Ellyn. District 41 graduates go to Glenbard West, and District 89 students go to Glenbard South. Both high schools are in Glenbard District 87. Use Glenbard's school boundary search for the exact address before you write an offer.
Does Glen Ellyn have a Metra station?
Yes. The Glen Ellyn station sits at 551 Crescent Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, on the Union Pacific West Line, 22.4 miles from Ogilvie Transportation Center. The village is planning a new station and pedestrian underpass downtown.
Are there historic homes in Glen Ellyn?
Yes. The village describes homes near downtown in styles from Queen Anne to Craftsman, Prairie, and Tudor Revival. Downtown and the Main Street Historic District are on the National Register, and the village has landmarked more than forty properties. Check whether a house is a local landmark before you plan major changes.
Can I find a condo or townhome in Glen Ellyn?
Yes. Attached homes sit near downtown, along Swift Road and St. Charles Road, north of College of DuPage, and near Roosevelt Road. Glen Ellyn also has condos in its multifamily buildings.
What should veterans know before buying in Glen Ellyn?
Review condition at the first showing, since 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 Glen Ellyn 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 about 2% of Glen Ellyn's housing, so widen the search to nearby towns if you want more choices.
Start with a conversation
Ready to talk Glen Ellyn?
If you're buying in Glen Ellyn, selling a house there, or comparing it with Wheaton and the other DuPage suburbs, send us the address or the budget. We'll talk through the school districts, 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.