If you're looking for a suburban location with easy access to the city but surrounded by the very best of nature, look no further than Lisle IL. Located in the western suburbs of DuPage County, about 25 miles from downtown, Chicago, Lisle is home to the world famous Morton Arboretum, a main focal point and place visitors come to from all over the state. It also boasts a robust population of young, single professionals as well as a thriving family community. The business district is well attended, with boutique stores, upscale eateries, and thriving enterprises. Lisle is a village which prizes nature and promotes the beauty of the natural landscape, giving its residents optimal opportunities to enjoy the outdoors right in their own backyard.
Lisle has a population of 22,757 with a median income of $73,523, which is significantly above the Illinois average of $56,210. The population here is highly educated with 56.2% attaining a Bachelor's Degree or higher and 22.6% with a Graduate or Professional Degree. Of the residents in Lisle, 33.5% of the population was never married while 8.9% are divorced and the percentage of family households is 58.5%. The residents of Lisle are predominantly Caucasian (73.2%), with the remaining citizens identifying as Hispanic, Asian, Black, and two or more races.
A quick look around the downtown area of Lisle will tell you that the culture is very devoted to natural beauty. There are upscale eateries, independently owned stores and bakeries, and business complexes lining the downtown area. Main Street has a very small town feel that's well maintained and pristine. The streets are lined with lovely stone structures with perfectly landscaped plants and flowers where pedestrians can sit for a break in their shopping or local employees can take their lunch break with a good book and sandwich in the nice weather. In the winter time, the streets are lit up with beautiful white lights and holiday decorations to enchant the eye. You'll find lovely fountains, walking paths and the parks, the exceptionally well maintained parks, will be something you'll note in Lisle.
Of course, Morton Arboretum, with it's 17,000 acres of wildlife is something most people can't help but mention about Lisle. But for those who live in the village, there's far more to the place. For young singles, there's an active social life and plenty of employment opportunity. In 2011, CNNMoney named Lisle one of the Top 25 Places to Live for the Rich and Single. It also made the list in 2009. Lisle has a healthy single population and most residents are well educated. The village is a small one, but with some fantastic employment opportunities, including small businesses as well as large corporations, such as Navistar Inc. Besides the jogging and bike paths and outdoor activities, the Four Lakes area features ski and snowboarding in the winter and The Lodge is a local bar there which hosts many well known local bands. Other events around the town include the French Market, a fantastic Fourth of July celebration with a Fest and "Eyes to the Sky" which is a very well attended hot air balloon festival.
While Lisle has a reputation as a fantastic suburb for single professionals, it's also home to many wonderful families. The school district is excellent and two high schools serve the area - Lisle High School and Benet Academy. Lisle is also home to Benedictine University, National Louis University, and Northwood University.
The quality of life in Lisle is excellent for anyone who enjoys a hometown feel and great access to many outdoors activities. Residents are primarily upper middle class and single family homes are well maintained, many built in the last 20 years. The Bulls/Sox Training Facility is located at Benedictine University which offers fantastic training and coaching for those interested in pursuing sports in the area. They also host plenty of sports exhibitions for the community. The Eyes to the Skies festival is well attended with people coming from around the state. If the hot air balloon festivities weren't enough to entice you, there are also arts and crafts, food, games, a carnival, and an outstanding fireworks display.
The Lisle park district has 42 sites, boasting a variety of activities for residents. Every age bracket and walk of life is accounted for - from toddlers all the way through our older residents. Some sites include the River Bend Golf Club and the Sea Lion Aquatic Park. There are a number of local bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries and on Saturdays, the French Market is a wonderful place to pick up something out of the ordinary, whether you're interested in pastry of fresh cut flowers. Lisle is close enough to downtown Chicago that residents can easily make a trip for anything the city has to offer, from museums to boat excursions to a night out on the town. And the Metra runs right through Lisle, so there's easy access to the city and other suburbs along the train line.
Lisle is most definitely best known for the Morton Arboretum - it's so important to the city that they actually made it part of the brand of the village: Lisle: The Arboretum Village. While the Arboretum is certainly an exceptional gem and one the entire state benefits from, there are other quality aspects to the village of Lisle, including the fantastic employment opportunities and outdoor activities.
