Des Plaines borders O'Hare International Airport directly, sits where two interstates meet, and is home to one of the largest entertainment venues in the Northwest Suburbs — Rivers Casino. Here's an honest, practical look at the market, so you know what to expect before we talk.
Post-war single-family homes; condos and apartments near downtown, the station and the business corridors
Why buyers consider Des Plaines
Des Plaines' location is its defining feature: it borders O'Hare International Airport, sits where Interstate 90 and Interstate 294 meet, and has its own Metra station with direct service into Chicago. Rivers Casino, one of the larger entertainment and dining venues in the Northwest Suburbs, sits along the Des Plaines River on the town's east side. For buyers who value airport proximity, highway access, or just a town with a genuinely distinct identity beyond a quiet residential suburb, Des Plaines stands out from its more purely residential neighbors.
Housing & property types
Des Plaines is a mature, largely built-out suburb with a housing stock that spans several eras — post-war single-family homes are common throughout much of town, with condominiums and apartment communities concentrated especially near downtown, the Metra station, and the busier commercial corridors closer to O'Hare and Interstate 294. That range gives buyers more format and price-point options in one town than some smaller, more uniformly single-family neighbors.
Getting to know the town
Des Plaines doesn't have official named neighborhoods, but its geography is distinct: the Des Plaines River runs through town (and gives it its name), with Lake Opeka in Lake Park along its course. Downtown, around the Metra station on Miner Street, is a walkable commercial core. Rivers Casino and the surrounding entertainment and commercial area sit along the river on the town's east side, closer to O'Hare. Residential neighborhoods fill in the rest of town, with character varying by proximity to the airport, the river, and the two interstates.
Commuting & transportation
Des Plaines has its own Metra station (1501 Miner St., downtown) on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, with direct service into Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center. By car, both Interstate 90 and Interstate 294 (the Tri-State Tollway) pass through town, and Des Plaines borders O'Hare International Airport directly — a genuine advantage for anyone who flies often or works near the airport. As always, actual commute time depends on the specific address and time of day — I won't quote a number here, but the rail, highway, and airport access are all real and verifiable.
Schools
Most of Des Plaines is served by Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 for elementary and middle school, with a portion of town in River Trails School District 26 instead. High school students generally attend schools within Maine Township High School District 207, based in neighboring Park Ridge. As always, exact school assignment depends on the specific address — it's one of the first things I check for a home you're seriously considering.
Parks, amenities & lifestyle
Downtown Des Plaines, around the Metra station on Miner Street, offers a walkable mix of restaurants and shops. Lake Opeka, in Lake Park along the Des Plaines River, provides a genuine outdoor option within town. Rivers Casino, on the river's east side, is one of the larger entertainment and dining destinations in the Northwest Suburbs and a real draw in its own right, separate from anything O'Hare-related.
Buying, selling, investing
If you're buying
Airport proximity is a real trade-off here, not just a convenience — decide up front how you feel about being close to O'Hare before you fall in love with a specific street, since it affects daily life differently depending on exact location relative to flight paths. Beyond that, Des Plaines' mature, varied housing stock means it's worth being specific about format (single-family, condo, or apartment-style) and location relative to downtown, the river, and the interstates early in your search.
Des Plaines' varied housing stock and distinct sub-areas (downtown/Metra, riverfront near the casino, quieter residential streets farther from the airport) mean your comparable sales are more location-specific than in a smaller, more uniform town. I'll base your pricing strategy on genuinely comparable, recent sales for your specific area and home type, not a townwide average.
Des Plaines' mix of condominiums, apartment communities, and proximity to O'Hare and two interstates generally supports steadier rental demand than a purely residential town, particularly near downtown and the commercial corridors. As always, confirm current zoning and any rental licensing requirements for a specific property directly with the City of Des Plaines before assuming a use is allowed.
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