Is Clarendon Hills The Right Fit For Your Next Home

Wondering whether Clarendon Hills is worth the premium? If you are comparing western suburbs and trying to balance home size, commute, and overall lifestyle, that is a smart question to ask. Clarendon Hills stands out in this corridor for its village-center setting, detached-home inventory, and higher price point. This guide will help you see where it fits, what you are likely to find, and how it compares with nearby alternatives. Let’s dive in.

Clarendon Hills at a Glance

Clarendon Hills is a compact west suburban village with a strong small-town identity. The village highlights community character, neighborhood reinvestment, and a vibrant downtown as key priorities. With about 8,900 residents and more than 100 businesses, it offers an active local core rather than a purely residential feel.

Downtown plays a big role in the day-to-day experience here. Community events such as the Farmers Market, Dancin’ in the Street, Daisy Days, Oktoberfest, Holiday Walk, and the Tree Lighting ceremony help keep the village center visible and active throughout the year. The village is also moving forward with a Downtown Improvement Plan and a separate downtown revitalization project, which points to ongoing investment in the heart of town.

Why Buyers Consider Clarendon Hills

For many buyers, Clarendon Hills is appealing because it combines a village-style downtown with a housing stock that leans larger and more detached than nearby suburbs. If you want a setting where the train station, local businesses, and community events are central to the experience, Clarendon Hills often lands high on the list.

Location also matters. Clarendon Hills sits west of I-294 and Route 83 and south of I-88 and Ogden Avenue, which places it within a well-known west suburban corridor. That makes it a natural comparison point with places like Downers Grove and Westmont when you are weighing commute patterns, lot sizes, and price.

Homes in Clarendon Hills

If your search is focused on detached single-family homes, Clarendon Hills has a lot to offer. CMAP data shows that 73.3 percent of housing units in Clarendon Hills are single-family detached. That is a higher share than nearby Downers Grove and much higher than Westmont.

The housing stock also tends to be roomy. The median number of rooms is 7.4, and 32.2 percent of homes have four bedrooms while 11.7 percent have five or more bedrooms. If you need extra space for everyday living, guests, hobbies, or work-from-home flexibility, that profile may line up well with your priorities.

There is also a mix of older homes and newer opportunities. About 39.9 percent of homes were built between 1940 and 1969, while 20.2 percent were built in 2000 or later. That mix helps explain why buyers may see both established homes and newer construction or rebuild-style inventory in the village.

Lot Sizes and Home Style

Lot size is one of the details that can shape how a home feels long term. In Clarendon Hills, current listing examples show parcels around 7,920 square feet, 9,035 square feet, 9,945 square feet, 0.3 acre, 0.46 acre, and even 0.7 acre. These are examples, not market medians, but they help illustrate the kind of inventory buyers may encounter.

That matters if you are hoping for more outdoor space or a property with expansion potential. In this market, you are more likely to come across premium parcels and infill rebuild opportunities than you would in some nearby suburbs. For buyers who care about both house size and lot character, Clarendon Hills can check important boxes.

Clarendon Hills Pricing

Clarendon Hills is the premium market in this group. As of March 2026, Redfin shows a median sale price of $925,000 in Clarendon Hills. That compares with $472,500 in Downers Grove and $442,000 in Westmont.

In simple terms, Clarendon Hills is roughly a two-times-price market compared with those nearby alternatives. That does not automatically make it the right or wrong choice. It does mean you should go in with clear expectations about what you are paying for and what trade-offs come with that decision.

What the Premium May Reflect

The higher price point appears to line up with the village’s housing mix and identity. Clarendon Hills has a stronger concentration of detached homes, a larger median room count, and more four-bedroom-plus homes than either Downers Grove or Westmont. It also has a village-center feel that is a meaningful part of its appeal.

Taken together, the data suggests buyers are often paying for a combination of larger homes, a more premium housing profile, and a downtown-centered community experience. For some households, that package is exactly what they want. For others, the better fit may be a nearby suburb with a broader range of price points.

Commuting from Clarendon Hills

The commuter story is an important part of life in Clarendon Hills. The village’s Metra station sits right in the center of town at 1 South Prospect Avenue on the BNSF line. If rail access is a priority, having the station in the heart of the village is a practical advantage and a lifestyle feature at the same time.

CMAP reports a mean commute time of 30.5 minutes in Clarendon Hills. That is longer than the reported averages in Downers Grove at 27.8 minutes and Westmont at 25.4 minutes. So while Clarendon Hills is clearly rail-oriented, it is not necessarily the fastest-commute option in this three-town comparison.

Transit use is stronger here than in the nearby comparison suburbs. In Clarendon Hills, 14.2 percent of workers commute by transit, compared with 7.8 percent in Downers Grove and 4.3 percent in Westmont. CMAP also reports that 40.5 percent of Clarendon Hills resident and job locations have high transit availability, well above the DuPage County figure of 17.7 percent.

How Clarendon Hills Compares Nearby

If you are choosing between Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, and Westmont, it helps to think in terms of fit rather than rankings. Each town offers something different, and your best choice depends on what matters most to you.

Clarendon Hills vs. Downers Grove

Downers Grove offers more housing variety and more transit choice. CMAP data shows 63.1 percent of its housing units are detached single-family, with a median of 6.5 rooms. It also has three BNSF stations, including Main Street, Fairview Avenue, and Belmont.

If you want a broader range of housing options and station access, Downers Grove may feel more flexible. If you are specifically drawn to a premium village-center environment with larger detached homes, Clarendon Hills may feel more tailored to that goal.

Clarendon Hills vs. Westmont

Westmont has the most mixed housing stock of the three. CMAP reports that 41.0 percent of its housing units are detached single-family, while 17.8 percent are in buildings with 20 or more units. Its median number of rooms is 5.0, which is notably smaller than Clarendon Hills.

Westmont may make sense if you want lower price points and a wider mix of housing types. Clarendon Hills may be the stronger fit if you are looking for more house, more detached inventory, and a more premium overall market position.

Who Clarendon Hills Fits Best

Clarendon Hills may be a strong match if you are looking for a detached single-family home in a village-centered setting and you are comfortable shopping in a higher price bracket. It can also be a smart place to focus if your wish list includes more rooms, a larger lot, or the possibility of newer construction or a rebuild opportunity.

You may want to look harder at nearby alternatives if affordability is a top concern or if you want the widest possible inventory. Downers Grove offers a broader suburban middle ground, while Westmont can appeal to buyers who want more value-oriented price points and a more mixed housing supply.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy

Before you decide whether Clarendon Hills is the right fit, it helps to narrow your priorities. Ask yourself:

• Do you want a village-center setting with a visible downtown and regular community events?
• Is a detached single-family home your top priority?
• How important are larger room counts or four-bedroom-plus layouts?
• Are you comfortable buying in a market where sale prices are much higher than nearby suburbs?
• Do you value rail access in town, even if another nearby suburb may offer more station options?

Your answers can make the decision much clearer. The right fit is not just about what looks good on paper. It is about how the location, home type, and budget work together for your next move.

If you are comparing Clarendon Hills with Downers Grove, Westmont, or other nearby suburbs, a local, side-by-side strategy can save you time and help you focus on the places that truly match your goals. For personalized guidance on buying, selling, or evaluating your options in the western suburbs, connect with Wenzel Select Properties.

FAQs

Is Clarendon Hills more expensive than nearby suburbs?

• Yes. As of March 2026, the median sale price in Clarendon Hills was $925,000, compared with $472,500 in Downers Grove and $442,000 in Westmont.

What kind of homes are common in Clarendon Hills?

• Clarendon Hills is heavily oriented toward detached single-family housing, which makes up 73.3 percent of its housing units. The village also has a relatively large-home profile, with a median of 7.4 rooms.

Does Clarendon Hills have a Metra station?

• Yes. Clarendon Hills has a Metra station in the center of town at 1 South Prospect Avenue on the BNSF line.

Is Clarendon Hills a good fit for buyers who want more space?

• It can be. CMAP data shows a strong share of four-bedroom and five-bedroom-plus homes, and listing examples suggest buyers may find larger lots and premium parcels.

How does Clarendon Hills compare with Downers Grove for commuting?

• Clarendon Hills is rail-oriented, but CMAP reports a longer mean commute time at 30.5 minutes compared with 27.8 minutes in Downers Grove. Downers Grove also has three BNSF stations, while Clarendon Hills has one.

Should you choose Clarendon Hills over Westmont?

• It depends on your priorities. Clarendon Hills may fit better if you want a more premium market with more detached homes and larger layouts, while Westmont may fit better if you want lower price points and a more mixed housing stock.