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Arlington Heights, IL

Homes, Neighborhoods & Local Guide

Arlington Heights is one of the Northwest Suburbs I know especially well because it’s also where I live. If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or making a move within the village, this page is a good place to start.

You’ll find current housing information, neighborhoods, property taxes, schools, commuting, parks, downtown Arlington Heights, local resources and the practical details that can help you understand what living here is really like.

Local real estate and community information from an Arlington Heights resident and Northwest Suburban Realtor

Last updated: August 2026

Mari Van Meter Elk Grove Village, IL Real Estate Agent Headshot

Meet Your Arlington Heights Guide

I’m Mari Van Meter, a residential REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices American Heritage Real Estate, serving Arlington Heights and communities throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs.


I also live in Arlington Heights, so I see the community from two perspectives. I work with the housing market professionally, and I experience the village as a resident.


For guides like this, I use current MLS data, property records, municipal and other primary sources, local resources, and my own experience in the community. When something can change by address, such as property taxes or school assignments, I’ll tell you rather than giving you a broad answer that may not apply to the home you’re considering.


My professional designations include C2EX, ABR®, SRES®, PSA, and CNE. More important to the way I work, I believe people make better real estate decisions when they have good information, clear options, and room to think.


Meet Mari

Start Exploring Arlington Heights

You don’t have to read this page from top to bottom. If you’re researching something specific, these are good places to start.

Living in Arlington Heights

Get the fuller picture of housing, taxes, transportation, neighborhoods, and day-to-day life.

Read the Living in Arlington Heights Guide

Arlington Heights Housing Market

See current prices, recent sales, market time, inventory, and how houses are behaving differently from condos and townhomes.

See the Current Market

Arlington Heights Neighborhoods

Compare housing styles, locations, property types, price ranges, and different parts of the village.

Explore Arlington Heights Neighborhoods

Moving to Arlington Heights

Start here if you’re considering a move and want the major decisions organized in one place.

Read the Moving Guide

Property Taxes

Learn why tax bills can vary so much from one Arlington Heights property to another and what to review before buying.

Understand Arlington Heights Property Taxes

Selling a Home in Arlington Heights

Learn how I approach pricing, preparation, marketing, and the decisions that happen before a home goes on the market.

Explore Selling a Home

Quick Facts About Arlington Heights

Here are a few helpful details to know when exploring Arlington Heights:

  • County: Cook County
  • Location: Approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago
  • Transit: Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line
  • Metra stations: Arlington Heights and Arlington Park
  • Downtown: Restaurants, shops, entertainment, public spaces, and residential options centered around the Metra station
  • Schools: Multiple public school districts serve Arlington Heights; assignments vary by property address
  • Parks and recreation: Arlington Heights Park District operates parks, recreation facilities, pools, athletic programs, and community programming
  • Nearby outdoor recreation: Busse Woods / Ned Brown Forest Preserve
  • Housing: Condominiums, townhomes, established single-family homes, newer construction, and larger custom homes

One of the most important things to know about Arlington Heights is that the village name alone doesn’t tell you everything about a property. Taxes, school assignments, lot sizes, housing styles, proximity to transit, and even the practical experience of getting around can vary considerably by address.

What It's Like to Live in Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights combines established residential areas with a developed downtown, Metra service, parks, recreation, restaurants, entertainment, and a broad range of housing. But there isn’t one single Arlington Heights experience. Someone living in a downtown condominium may walk to the train, restaurants, library, and entertainment. Someone living farther from downtown may have a larger lot and more traditional suburban surroundings but drive for most daily errands. Housing changes, too. Depending on the part of the village, you’ll find mid-century ranches and split-levels, larger two-story homes, condominiums, townhomes, newer construction, and custom properties. That’s why I recommend evaluating Arlington Heights at two levels: Does the community make sense for what you need? Does this particular property and location make sense for what you need? Those aren’t always the same answer. Read the complete Living in Arlington Heights, IL guide below!

Living in Arlington Heights, IL: A Local Guide

Arlington Heights Housing Market

Current Market Snapshot

Arlington Heights is not one housing market. Detached houses and condos or townhomes often behave differently, and averages across the entire village can hide those differences.

Data through: August 20, 2026

  • Detached-home median sale price: $588,687

  • Condo/townhome median sale price: $261,000

  • Detached-home median time to contract: 8 days

  • Detached homes selling at or above asking: 65%

  • Homes currently listed at the time of the report: 102

These figures describe the broader market, not the value of an individual property. Condition, location, lot, improvements, property type, competition, and recent comparable sales still matter when evaluating a specific home.

I update the full Arlington Heights market report separately so this community page can remain useful without becoming a dated collection of quarterly statistics.

Read the CURRENT Full Arlington Heights Market Update

*Market information is based on local MLS activity for the stated reporting period and can change as records are updated.

Buying or Selling in Arlington Heights

The same local details that make Arlington Heights interesting can also make real estate decisions more property-specific than people expect.

Buying a Home in Arlington Heights

Buying a Home in Arlington Heights

When I’m helping someone compare Arlington Heights homes, I’m looking beyond the list price.

Depending on the property, we may need to look at:

  • Current and prior property taxes
  • Exemptions reflected in the current tax bill
  • School assignment for the specific address
  • Housing age and condition
  • Recent updates and likely future maintenance
  • Lot size and location
  • Metra and major-road access
  • Association fees and reserves for attached housing
  • Recent comparable sales
  • Current competition for that type of property

Two homes with similar asking prices can create very different monthly costs and very different ownership experiences.

Selling a House in Arlington Heights

Selling a House in Arlington Heights

I don’t think an Arlington Heights home should be priced or prepared using a one-size-fits-all village strategy.

A downtown condo, an older ranch, a 1960s split-level, a larger two-story home, and newer construction may attract different competition and require different decisions before going on the market.

My recommendation is based on the specific property, including:

  • Recent comparable sales
  • Current competing listings
  • Condition and updates
  • Buyer activity
  • Property type and location
  • Pricing thresholds
  • Preparation that may improve the sale
  • Work that probably isn’t worth doing before listing

The goal isn’t to do everything to a home. It’s to make thoughtful decisions about what will actually matter in the current market.

Arlington Heights Neighborhoods and Housing

Arlington Heights covers a large enough area that housing can change noticeably from one part of the village to another.

You’ll find areas with predominantly established single-family homes, downtown condominiums and townhomes, mid-century subdivisions, newer construction, and larger custom properties.

Rather than relying only on neighborhood names, I recommend comparing the details of the individual property:

  • Housing type

  • Year built

  • Condition

  • Lot size

  • Property taxes

  • School assignment

  • Distance to Metra

  • Proximity to major roads

  • Association costs, when applicable

  • Recent sales of genuinely comparable homes

My Arlington Heights Neighborhood Guide goes deeper into the housing patterns and sales activity in different parts of the village.

Explore Arlington Heights Neighborhoods

Cost of Living and Owning in Arlington Heights

Purchase price is only one part of what a home costs.

For an Arlington Heights property, the bigger ownership picture can include:

  • Mortgage payment

  • Property taxes

  • Homeowners insurance

  • HOA or condominium assessments

  • Utilities

  • Maintenance

  • Age and condition of major systems

  • Future repairs or improvements

  • Transportation and commuting costs

This is especially important when comparing two homes at similar prices.

A home with a lower purchase price can still cost more each month because of property taxes, assessments, utilities, or upcoming maintenance. A more expensive home may sometimes have lower ongoing costs in another category.

I recommend comparing the complete monthly and longer-term ownership picture instead of using the mortgage payment alone.

Read the Arlington Heights Cost of Living Guide

Arlington Heights Schools

Several public school districts serve addresses within Arlington Heights, and attendance boundaries do not always follow subdivision, ZIP code, or municipal boundaries.

That means I don’t recommend choosing a home based on a general statement that a particular neighborhood “goes to” a certain school.

For a specific property, verify the current assignment directly with the applicable school district

Useful sources include:

Buyers should contact the applicable district directly to confirm current boundaries, enrollment procedures, and transportation information for a specific address.

Understand Arlington Heights School Districts

Downtown Arlington Heights

Downtown Arlington Heights is centered around the Metra station, with restaurants, local businesses, entertainment, community spaces, and several types of housing within and around the district.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, restaurants along Vail and Campbell, and seasonal events contribute to the activity downtown.

Housing nearby includes condominiums, townhomes, apartments, and established single-family areas at varying distances from the center of downtown.

If living near downtown interests you, look at more than walking distance. Depending on the property, I’d also consider:

  • Train access

  • Parking

  • Association fees

  • Building reserves and rules

  • Proximity to major streets or the rail line

  • Guest parking

  • Property taxes

  • How you expect to use downtown in everyday life

Explore Downtown Arlington Heights

Commuting From Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights is served by Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line, including the downtown Arlington Heights station and Arlington Park station.

The downtown station provides rail service to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. Depending on the train, a typical trip is roughly 35 to 45 minutes.

For someone comparing homes based partly on commuting, I recommend looking at:

  • Distance to the station

  • Parking options and current availability

  • Train schedule for the time you actually travel

  • Access to Route 53, I-90, Northwest Highway, Rand Road, and Arlington Heights Road

  • Your destination, not simply “Chicago”

  • How often you actually expect to commute

If your commute is an important part of the move, test it. Drive the route or take the train during the hours you would actually us.

Read About Commuting from Arlington Heights to Chicago

Arlington Heights Property Taxes

Property taxes are one of the areas where broad averages can be especially misleading.

Two Arlington Heights homes that sell for similar prices can have tax bills that differ by thousands of dollars.

Differences may come from:

  • Assessed value

  • Exemptions

  • Taxing districts

  • Assessment history

  • Township

  • The individual property

Before buying, I recommend reviewing the specific property's:

  1. Current tax bill

  2. Assessed value

  3. Exemptions

  4. Recent tax history

  5. Property Index Number, or PIN

A current owner's exemptions may not apply to the next owner, so I would not simply assume the existing tax bill will remain unchanged.

Buyers should also verify tax records directly through Cook County and consult a qualified tax professional when needed.

Understand Arlington Heights Property Taxes

Arlington Heights Parks and Recreation

The Arlington Heights Park District operates parks, pools, community centers, athletic facilities, programs, and seasonal recreation throughout the village.

Lake Arlington is one of the better-known local recreation areas, and nearby Busse Woods / Ned Brown Forest Preserve provides additional trails, open space, boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Rather than maintaining a long list of facilities that can change, I recommend using the Arlington Heights Park District and Forest Preserves of Cook County for current hours, programming, registration, and facility information.

Discover Arlington Heights Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Restaurants and Local Businesses in Arlington Heights

There is a broad mix of dining in Arlington Heights, with a particularly visible concentration around downtown.

You’ll find coffee shops, casual restaurants, international cuisine, longtime local businesses, and places geared toward dinner or an evening downtown.

Restaurants change more frequently than housing, transportation, or municipal information, so I keep my detailed recommendations in a separate local dining guide where I can update them more easily.

Explore Restaurants in Arlington Heights

Events & Community Life in Arlington Heights

There is usually something happening somewhere in Arlington Heights, but event dates and schedules change too frequently for an evergreen community guide to maintain reliably.

For current information, I recommend checking directly with:

I also share local events, community updates, and things to do throughout the Northwest Suburbs on social media.

Thinking about moving to Arlington Heights?

If Arlington Heights is on your list, I would compare more than houses.

Think about the whole move:

  • What type of home do you want?

  • How important is Metra access?

  • What does the actual tax bill look like?

  • Are there association fees?

  • What kind of maintenance comes with the property?

  • Does the location work for the places you regularly need to reach?

  • Is the specific school assignment important to your decision?

  • What compromises are you willing to make for location, condition, lot, or price?

You do not need to answer everything at once.

My Moving to Arlington Heights Guide pulls the major considerations together so you can work through them in a more organized way.

Read the Moving to Arlington Heights Guide

Pros and Cons of Living in Arlington Heights

I like living in Arlington Heights, but that doesn’t mean it’s automatically the right community for every move.

Things people may value

Depending on their own priorities, people may appreciate:

  • Direct Metra service

  • A developed downtown

  • Restaurants and entertainment

  • A wide range of housing

  • Parks and recreation

  • Access to major Northwest Suburban roads and employment areas

Things worth thinking about

Depending on the property and the person’s priorities, tradeoffs may include:

  • Property taxes

  • Competition for certain types of homes

  • Older housing that may need updating or maintenance

  • Traffic on major roads

  • Parking considerations near downtown

  • Significant property-to-property differences within the village

The question isn’t whether Arlington Heights is objectively a “good” place to live.

The better question is whether the specific home, location, costs, transportation, and community resources fit what matters to you.

Read the Full Pros and Cons Guide

Arlington Heights, IL FAQ

Straight answers to common questions about living in Arlington Heights, including housing, Metra service, property taxes, schools, the local market, and what to know before making a move.

Where is Arlington Heights, Illinois?

Arlington Heights is a village in Cook County in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs. It is located northwest of the city and includes established residential neighborhoods, a downtown district, parks, recreation, local businesses, restaurants, and two Metra stations.

How far is Arlington Heights from downtown Chicago?

Arlington Heights is about 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Travel time varies depending on traffic, destination, and time of day. Metra also provides rail service between Arlington Heights and downtown Chicago.

Does Arlington Heights have Metra service?

Yes. Arlington Heights is served by Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line. The village has two stations: Arlington Heights and Arlington Park. Train schedules and travel times can change, so check Metra directly for current information.

What types of homes are available in Arlington Heights?

Arlington Heights has a wide range of housing, including condominiums, townhomes, mid-century ranches and split-levels, established single-family homes, newer construction, and custom properties. Housing style, lot size, age, taxes, and proximity to downtown can vary considerably from one part of Arlington Heights to another.

How do property taxes work in Arlington Heights?

Arlington Heights property taxes are based on the individual property’s assessed value, applicable exemptions, taxing districts, and other Cook County assessment factors. Two homes with similar sale prices can have very different tax bills, so it is important to review the actual tax history for each property.

Property-specific tax information can be checked through the Cook County Treasurer.

Which school districts serve Arlington Heights?

Arlington Heights is served by multiple public school districts, and assignments vary by property address. Arlington Heights School District 25 serves many elementary and middle school students, while other portions of the village may fall within nearby districts. High school assignments may include schools within Township High School District 214.

Buyers should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with the applicable school district before making a housing decision.

Is downtown Arlington Heights walkable?

Downtown Arlington Heights has a relatively compact layout centered around the Metra station. Restaurants, shops, entertainment, the library, public spaces, and residential buildings are located within the downtown area. Walkability can vary depending on the specific property location and where you need to go.

What is the Arlington Heights housing market like?

Over the 12 months ending August 20, 2026, detached homes went under contract in a median of 8 days, and 65% sold at or above asking. Condos and townhomes behaved differently, which is why I separate the two when evaluating current conditions.

Market conditions can still vary by price range, location, condition, property type, and current competition.

For the most current information, see the Arlington Heights Housing Market Update.

What should I know before moving to Arlington Heights?

Before moving to Arlington Heights, compare more than the purchase price. Property taxes, school assignments, housing style, condition, lot size, proximity to Metra, association fees, future maintenance, and location within the village can all affect the overall fit and cost of a home.

A property-by-property comparison is often more useful than relying on general assumptions about the community.

Read the Moving to Arlington Heights Guide

Can you help me buy or sell a home in Arlington Heights?

Yes. I’m Mari Van Meter, a residential REALTOR® who lives in Arlington Heights and serves clients throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs.

I help buyers compare homes, neighborhoods, property taxes, market conditions, and other property-specific details. For sellers, I provide a customized pricing, preparation, and marketing strategy built around the home and current Arlington Heights market.

Talk Through Your Options

How This Arlington Heights Guide Is Researched

I want the information on this page to be useful enough to make real decisions with, not simply another collection of generic suburb descriptions.

Depending on the topic, I use:

  • ConnectMLS sales and listing data

  • Cook County property and tax records

  • U.S. Census Bureau information

  • Village of Arlington Heights resources

  • Arlington Heights Park District

  • Metra

  • Applicable public school districts

  • Illinois Report Card

  • Forest Preserves of Cook County

  • Other primary local sources

  • My own professional and firsthand experience in Arlington Heights

Market information is dated so you can tell when it was measured. Links to schools, taxes, transit, and community organizations are provided so you can verify information directly when a decision depends on a specific property.

If something important varies by address, I would rather tell you to verify it than give you a simple answer that may be wrong.

Questions About Arlington Heights?

You don’t need to have your whole move figured out before asking a question.

If you’re trying to understand a particular Arlington Heights home, comparing parts of the village, thinking about selling, or simply trying to decide what should come next, I’m happy to help you sort through the information.

Mari Van Meter
Northwest Suburban Chicago REALTOR®
Arlington Heights resident
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices American Heritage Real Estate

Contact Mari
downtown Arlington Heights is packed with summer fun

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Phone

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