Des Plaines is the kind of suburb that families move to and then stay in for twenty years. Good schools, easy access to Chicago, parks everywhere, and a neighborhood feel that is genuinely hard to find this close to the city. Yorkshire Lane sits in one of the quieter, more established pockets of the 60016 zip code, and once you understand what is around it, the value at this price point becomes obvious.
**Getting to Chicago and Everywhere Else**
Des Plaines has two Metra stops on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, with a 33-minute ride into the city. For a move-up family where one or both parents commute downtown, that is a meaningful number. You are not trading your commute for the suburbs. You are improving your life while keeping the city close.
O'Hare International Airport is about a 10-minute drive away, and Interstates 90 and 294 run nearby, offering direct routes to downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Whether you travel for work or just want to get in and out of the city without thinking about it, this location handles both.
Des Plaines is often called the Gateway to Chicago for a reason. You are 17 miles from the Loop and genuinely feel like you live in a neighborhood, not a commuter corridor.
**Schools**
Maine Township High School District 207 serves Des Plaines and includes Maine East, Maine West, and Maine South high schools, with partner K-8 districts including River Trails School District 26 and Des Plaines School District 62.
Maine West High School, located on South Wolf Road in Des Plaines, is part of Maine Township District 207 and serves most of Des Plaines with a student to teacher ratio of approximately 15 to 1. For a move-up family with kids heading into or already in high school, that ratio matters. Smaller classes, more attention, better outcomes.
Harper Community College and Oakton College are both nearby for families thinking about higher education access down the road.
**Parks, Outdoor Life, and Recreation**
Des Plaines offers fishing, sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, miles of walking and biking trails, family aquatic centers, fitness centers, and 18-hole golf courses. This is not a list of amenities you never use. This is the kind of outdoor infrastructure that becomes part of your weekly routine.
Lake Opeka is one of the most popular spots in the city, where residents enjoy fishing, paddle boating, and relaxing by the water. The Des Plaines Park District also provides playgrounds and sports facilities throughout the city.
Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center is a summer destination with water slides, a lazy river, and a dedicated area for younger children. If you have kids between five and fifteen, this place becomes a summer institution.
**Local Life and Dining**
Des Plaines has a real downtown with restaurants, local spots, and a community feel that newer suburbs simply have not had time to build yet.
The Choo-Choo restaurant on Lee Street has been serving burgers and shakes to families for over 60 years, delivering food to the counter via a miniature train car. That is the kind of local character that makes a neighborhood feel like home rather than a development.
Rivers Casino on Market Street offers dining, entertainment, and live events for when you want a night out close to home. Think of it as your local entertainment district without driving into the city.
The Des Plaines History Center, local coffee shops, and a growing dining scene along the main corridor give the city a sense of place that families appreciate once they settle in.
**Why Families Move Here and Stay**
Des Plaines has a mix of older homes, local businesses, and a strong community feel that newer suburbs have not yet developed. That is the honest answer. This is not a place that was built last decade. It has roots, and that matters when you are buying a home you plan to be in for the next ten to fifteen years.
**Quick Reference**
- Metra to downtown Chicago: 33 minutes
- O'Hare International Airport: 10 minutes by car
- High School District: Maine Township District 207 (Maine West)
- Parks: Lake Opeka, Mystic Waters Aquatic Center, Des Plaines Park District
- Local Dining: Choo-Choo Restaurant, Rivers Casino dining, downtown Des Plaines corridor
- Major Highways: I-90, I-294, US Route 14
