Living in West Highlands, Naperville

Home Types

Single-Family Detached ~1,700–3,750 sq ft · 3–5 BR

Vintage

1958–Present 60540 · DuPage County

Current Price Range

Mid $500s – $1.4M+ Median ~$723K

Schools (D203)

Elmwood Elementary Lincoln Jr. High
Naperville Central HS

Local Context

• The location is the headline. West Highlands sits one mile south of downtown Naperville and one block west of the DuPage River. That combination — walkable to the best downtown in the Chicago suburbs, with river trail access out the back door — is nearly impossible to replicate at any price point in this market.
• One of Naperville's oldest neighborhoods. Development began in 1958, making West Highlands one of the city's original residential communities. The homes, the trees, and the streets all carry that depth of character. You feel it when you drive through.
• The Central feeder is a genuine differentiator. West Highlands feeds into Naperville Central High School — one of two nationally recognized D203 high schools, and consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Illinois. Families who want the Central pipeline specifically target this neighborhood.
• More family-friendly than 99% of Illinois neighborhoods. NeighborhoodScout's analysis places the Hobson West / West Highlands area in the top 1% of all Illinois neighborhoods for families — driven by top schools, low crime, and high owner-occupancy rates.
• The homes are larger than they look from the street. Models in West Highlands run from 2,000 to 3,750 square feet, primarily 4-bedroom with full basements. The Hemingway model at 3,750 sq ft is one of the larger floor plans in this part of Naperville.
• The equity story here is significant. A median value of $723K in a neighborhood that was a fraction of that a decade ago tells the story. Long-time owners in West Highlands are sitting on some of the strongest equity positions in the city.
• DuPage County taxes. Not Will County. That distinction matters when comparing options a few miles to the south.

Getting Around

• Downtown Naperville — 1 mile. Walkable in 15–20 minutes. Bikeable in 5. One of the very few Naperville neighborhoods where this is genuinely true.
• BNSF Metra — 3–5 minutes by car or a short bike ride. One of the closest residential neighborhoods to the Naperville station. Direct to Union Station. This is the commuter access point that makes West Highlands uniquely attractive to Chicago-area professionals.
• DuPage River Trail — 1 block east. Trail access directly from the neighborhood into the broader Naperville trail and greenway system.
• I-88 — 7–10 minutes. The full northwest tech and office corridor is accessible.
• Edward-Elmhurst Hospital — 10 minutes. One of the top-rated hospitals in Illinois.
• O'Hare Airport — 35–40 minutes via I-88 east to I-294 north.
• Midway Airport — 40–45 minutes via I-55.
• Zip Code: 60540 · DuPage County · City of Naperville · No HOA confirmed

☕ Coffee & Breakfast

• Sparrow Coffee — On the Riverwalk, a 15-minute walk from West Highlands. Serious espresso, minimalist space, and the kind of morning ritual worth building your weekend around.
• Colonial Cafe — Family-owned breakfast institution serving meals all day.  Also famous for their "I ate the kitchen sink" ice cream challenge.
• Buttermilk — A Naperville brunch staple. Comfort-forward menu, consistent quality, and always a crowd that tells you it's doing something right.
• Starbucks — Newer location at Gartner and S Washington St. 

🍽️ Dinner & Going Out

• Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House — The anchor of a big downtown night out. Walking distance from West Highlands. Excellent seafood, strong cocktails, lively atmosphere.
• Sullivan's Steakhouse — Classic steakhouse on the downtown strip. Special occasion energy, impeccable service — and an easy walk home afterward.
• La Sorella di Francesca — Consistently excellent Italian, a Naperville institution. The first place locals take out-of-town guests, and close enough to feel like your neighborhood restaurant.
• Brown Bag — Counter-serve spot serving sustainable seafood and health-minded sides in a casual space with a patio.
• Vasili's — Greek-Mediterranean in downtown Naperville. Fresh, flavorful, and one of the more underrated dinner options within walking distance.
• Lou Malnati's — Because sometimes Friday night calls for deep dish and nothing else. Close enough to make it a last-minute decision.
• White Chocolate Grill — Casual-upscale done right. Works for date nights and family dinners with equal ease.

🛒 Groceries & Errands

• Trader Joe's — 2 minutes. The Naperville Plaza is the fastest errand run in the neighborhood.
• Casey's Foods — Same corridor, 2 minutes. Good for specialty items like high-quality meats and a quick hot bar dinner on a busy weeknight.
• Jewel-Osco — Multiple locations nearby. Open late and handles everything the other two don't.
• Two Costco Locations — Both nearby.

🌿 Outside & Active

• DuPage River Trail — One block east of the neighborhood. Trail access into the broader Naperville greenway system directly from your backyard. One of the defining location advantages of West Highlands.
• Knoch Park — Baseball diamonds, softball fields, tennis courts, multi-purpose fields, ADA accessible playground, restrooms, and trails. One of the most fully featured parks in Naperville, and minutes from West Highlands. 
• Sportsman's Park - Shotgun trap range and fishing pond for the outdoorsman in your family.  Open to the public on Thursdays and Sundays. 
• Knoch Park — Baseball diamonds, softball fields, tennis courts, multi-purpose fields, ADA accessible playground, restrooms, and trails. One of the most fully featured parks in Naperville, and minutes away.
• Gartner Park — Basketball courts, ice skating rink, multi-purpose field, sled hill, softball fields, and trails. A true four-season neighborhood park at the southern edge of West Highlands.
• Brighton Ridge Park — Picnic area, playground, pond, and trails. The kind of park that becomes a weekly habit for families with young kids.
• Pioneer Greenway — Trail connector linking West Highlands to the broader Naperville trail system via Hobson Mill Drive. A starting point for longer rides and runs.
• Lincoln Woods & Lincoln Greenway — Wooded trail corridors that thread through the neighborhood's western edge. The kind of green space you stop noticing after a while — until you move somewhere without it.
• Naperville Riverwalk — 1 mile away. The heart of downtown Naperville's outdoor life, and genuinely walkable from West Highlands.
• Centennial Beach — About 1 mile. A former quarry turned into one of the most distinctive municipal pools in the country — within easy biking range.
• Knoch Knolls Park — A few minutes further south: 2.8-mile loop trail, 5 bridges, 2 rivers, canoe launch, disc golf, and picnic groves.

Move-Up Buyers

Why Families Target West Highlands

The Naperville Central pipeline and the walkable downtown location are a combination that commands a premium — and earns it.

• Elmwood Elementary → Lincoln Jr. High → Naperville Central HS. One of D203's two flagship high school pipelines.
• Top 1% most family-friendly neighborhoods in Illinois (NeighborhoodScout)
• Walkable to downtown — restaurants, Riverwalk, farmers market, and Metra all within 1 mile
• BNSF Metra 3–5 minutes away — one of the closest residential neighborhoods to the station
• DuPage River Trail access one block east — trail system from your door
• 4–5 BR homes up to 3,750 sq ft with full basements — room to grow without outgrowing the neighborhood
• Knoch Park, Gartner Park, and Pioneer Greenway all within the neighborhood footprint
• I-88 in 7–10 minutes — the full northwest office and tech corridor is accessible

Downsizing Sellers

Your Equity Is the Strategy

If you've owned in West Highlands for a decade or more, you already know what this neighborhood gave you. The walk to downtown. The Saturday morning farmers' market. The Riverwalk in every season. The kids who grew up biking to the DuPage River trail and walking to school. That kind of life is built slowly, and it's worth honoring before any conversation about what comes next.

But here's what's also true: West Highlands homes have appreciated dramatically over the past decade. A median value near $723K in a neighborhood that was a fraction of that not long ago is the Naperville effect in full force. The equity you've built in one of the city's most walkable, most established addresses is real — and it belongs to you.

The conversation doesn't start with where you're going. It starts with knowing exactly what this home is worth today. That number changes everything.

Community

• City of Naperville Events
• Naperville.com Events
• Visit Naperville Calendar
• City of Naperville

Schools · District 203

• Elmwood Elementary (K–5)
• Lincoln Junior High (6–8)
• Naperville Central HS (9–12)
• D203 Feeder School Chart
• D203 Boundary Maps
• CUSD 203 Website

Parks & Recreation

• Naperville Park District
• Park District Calendar
• Naperville Riverwalk (~1 mi)
• Centennial Beach (~1 mi)
• Knoch Knolls Park & Nature Center
• Bailey Hobson Woods