← Best suburbs near Chicago

Libertyville vs Vernon Hills

Two popular IL suburbs of Chicago, side by side. Here's how they compare on the metrics that matter most to families.

School rating
9/10
9/10
Commute to Chicago
89 min
91 min
Median home price
$589K
$439K
Annual property tax
$17K
$12K
Walk score
58
42
Density
suburban
suburban

Summary: It's a close match — both towns lead in 2 metrics each. The best choice depends on your family's priorities.

Character & vibe

Libertyville

Lake County's most charming city. Libertyville HS is excellent, the downtown is genuinely walkable, and you're at the edge of the metropolitan area with real estate that still feels like an investment.

communitywalkablespace

Vernon Hills

One of Lake County's premier planned suburbs with Hawthorn School District — consistently among Illinois's top-performing districts. The Hawthorn Center mall anchors commerce. Corporate campus employers (Baxter, Rust-Oleum) provide local employment. Metra North Central Line.

familytop-schoolsplanned

Who should pick which?

Pick Libertyville if you...

  • ·Want the shortest commute to Chicago
  • ·Value walkability and a pedestrian-friendly downtown

Pick Vernon Hills if you...

  • ·Need to keep your home budget in check
  • ·Want lower annual property taxes

Still deciding?

Burbia scores both Libertyville and Vernon Hills — and every other town in the Chicago Area — based on your specific commute, budget, and priorities. Not a generic list.

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