People move to the suburbs of a major city for a variety of reasons. Often they want the excitement and opportunity of living near a big city with the safety and breathing room of a small town. Merely deciding to live in a suburb is only the beginning of the decision process, however. Near a city like Chicago, for instance, there are dozens of suburbs to choose from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The Village of Buffalo Grove, located just 32 miles northwest of Chicago, is one popular choice of suburb for Chicago area residents, and with good reason—it has nearly everything a young family could need.
Families make up a good portion of Buffalo Grove’s 41,701 person population. In fact, 73 percent of households in Buffalo Grove have two to five people, according to data from Movoto. Of the population of Buffalo Grove, approximately 24 percent are under the age of 18. While the village is split between two counties, Lake and Cook, both sides boast a strong population of families. The reasons are clear. In addition to being a relatively quiet village located close to not only Chicago, but also thriving suburban cities of Arlington Heights, Rosemont and Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove offers the safety, education and amenities that families look for in a community.
One of the first concerns for a family is always safety. An article in the Daily Herald reports that in 2014, Buffalo Grove was ranked as the second safest city in Illinois, based on data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report as compiled by Movoto. This ranking is based on reports of crimes such as robbery, rape and murder, among others. The Buffalo Grove Police Department is well-respected in the community and they sponsor proactive programs like Youth Explorers and community CERT teams. The village also has an emergency notification system that informs residents of hazards.
Schools are another major concern for families, and again Buffalo Grove ranks well. According to Greatschools.org, Buffalo Grove achieved a rating of nine out of ten for the overall quality of the school system. With multiple grade schools and middle schools to choose from, not to mention esteemed Buffalo Grove High School and local sports powerhouse Stevenson High School, parents have plenty of options to put their kids into the best place to succeed. There is a strong tradition of education in the city as well, as 81 percent of the population surveyed have a college degree, again according to Movoto data.
Of course families need to eat, and Buffalo Grove has a fine selection of family restaurants. In addition to the chain restaurants like IHOP, Taco Bell, Burger King and McDonalds, Buffalo Grove is host to excellent local family restaurants like the Continental, Dengeos and the famed Buffalo Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor. For a great grab and go meal, there is Chicago Bagel and Bialy and Pastabilities. Fine dining options in the area include the Arboretum Club, Jameson’s Charhouse and the Village Tavern. For pizza, the classic Lou Malnoti’s is the centerpiece of the community.
When people are looking for something to do in the suburbs, the natural inclination is to go to the nearby big city. And while it’s true that Chicago has it all—professional teams for every sport, world class museums, fine dining and theatre, it is not always necessary to fight the traffic and the crowds to be entertained. The Village of Buffalo Grove has a wide selection of entertainment, much of it geared specifically toward families. For example, Buffalo Grove is home to Chicago Indoor Racing, a professionally built indoor go-kart track that provides challenges for the most experienced adult drivers and safe fun for the kids. For outdoor wheeled fun, there’s the Buffalo Grove Skatepark, and for a different type of skating there’s the Twin Lakes Ice Pavillion. There are two major golf courses to choose from and the new Brunswick Zone bowling alley and entertainment center. There are plenty of local options for amateur, educational and professional theatre and plenty of concerts to be enjoyed, as well, especially during the Annual Buffalo Grove Days Festival. For fun outdoors, there are plenty of ponds, wooded areas and playgrounds maintained by the Buffalo Grove Park District.
Staying in shape is important no matter where you live, and Buffalo Grove offers a variety of options in this regard. Gyms like Buffalo Grove Fitness Center, Sky Fitness and Fitness 19 offer all the latest exercise equipment and amenities you would expect from a gym, while Workout Anytime provides 24/7 access for the night owls who want to stay in shape. Title Boxing allows a different style of workout and stress relief and My Gym allows kids to get in a fun workout and stay healthy, too. There are several martial arts schools in town, too for both adults and children.
One of the great things about raising a family in Buffalo Grove is that it’s a fairly affluent suburb without the accompanying ridiculously high real estate prices. For example, Movoto’s data shows that 60 percent of households in Buffalo Grove make over $75,000 per year, and 23 percent make over $150,000 per year, but Buffalo Grove real estate is fairly reasonable. The average home price is $329,500 and in some neighborhoods in Buffalo Grove, a family can still find a starter home for under $250,000 or a nice condo for under $200,000. A family would be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable and convenient place to live with so many benefits for such a good price.
