Darien sits at the doorstep of Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, with established neighborhoods, a busy park district and quick access to I-55. I've helped many buyers and sellers in Darien over the years, from the established streets near Cass Avenue and 75th Street to the subdivisions that back up to Waterfall Glen.

Living in Darien

Darien is a city in southeast DuPage County, about 22 miles southwest of the Chicago Loop. Its neighbors include Westmont, Downers Grove, Woodridge, Willowbrook and Burr Ridge, and I-55 runs along its south side. The city grew from the old crossroads community of Cass, and Cass Avenue is still its main north–south road.

Shopping, dining and everyday errands line 75th Street and Cass Avenue, and Plainfield Road angles across the middle of town. Near I-55 and Cass Avenue, the National Shrine of St. Therese sits on wooded grounds cared for by the Carmelites and welcomes visitors throughout the year.

The Darien Park District runs more than a dozen parks, plus the Community Center on Fairview Avenue and the Darien Sportsplex on Plainfield Road, with indoor ice rinks and an indoor soccer field. Community Park, near Plainfield and Clarendon Hills roads, has a paved path, ball fields and courts. Within the city, Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve offers oak woodlands, prairie and wetlands.

Darien's motto calls the city the "Gateway to Waterfall Glen," and the forest preserve runs along its southern edge. Waterfall Glen's trails loop through woods and prairie to the Rocky Glen waterfall and the Sawmill Creek bluff overlook, and its main entrance is on Northgate Road, just off Cass Avenue. The Southern DuPage County Regional Trail also passes through Darien.

A Few of Darien's Neighborhoods

Darien has dozens of subdivisions. Here are some of the best known on each side of Plainfield Road and 83rd Street.

Don't see your neighborhood listed? Darien has many more subdivisions. Buying? Search all Darien homes for sale. Selling? Get a free home value report for any Darien neighborhood.

Homes in Darien

Much of Darien was built in the decades after World War II, so many neighborhoods feature ranches, raised ranches, split-levels and two-story homes on established, tree-lined lots. Some of the city's earliest subdivisions, such as Hinsbrook, sit on the north side.

Later subdivisions south of Plainfield Road and 83rd Street added larger two-story homes, some close to Waterfall Glen. Darien also has townhome and condominium communities, and new homes sometimes replace older ones on established streets. Some homes with a Darien mailing address sit in unincorporated DuPage County, which can affect property taxes and local services, so I always check which applies.

Darien Schools

Darien is served by several public school districts, depending on the address. Elementary and middle school districts, with the high school district that serves each:

• Maercker School District 60, with Hinsdale Township High School District 86
• Darien School District 61, with Community High School District 99 or Hinsdale Township High School District 86
• Cass School District 63, with Hinsdale Township High School District 86 or Lemont Township High School District 210
• Center Cass School District 66, with Community High School District 99

District 86 includes Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools, and Hinsdale South is located in Darien. District 99 includes Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South high schools, and District 210 is home to Lemont High School. The College of DuPage is a short drive away. School boundaries can change, so always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address directly with the district.

Commuting from Darien

I-55 runs along the south side of Darien, with interchanges at Cass Avenue and Lemont Road, I-355 is just to the west and I-294 is a short drive east. Average drive times from Darien:

Off-peak times shown in the circles. Times vary by starting point and traffic.

By train

Darien doesn't have its own Metra station, but several are a short drive away. To the north, the Westmont and Fairview Avenue (Downers Grove) stations on the Metra BNSF line reach Chicago Union Station in about 30–45 minutes, depending on the train. To the south, the Lemont station on the Heritage Corridor line has limited weekday rush-hour service to Union Station. See current times on the Metra schedules page.

Darien Real Estate Market

Darien homes draw steady interest, thanks to the city's location along I-55, its parks and forest preserves and its mix of single-family homes, townhomes and condos. Conditions can differ from one neighborhood to the next. For current prices, days on market and recent sales, see today's Darien real estate market report.

Why Work with Kimberly Thurm in Darien

Over more than 35 years in real estate, I've guided clients through sales in Darien and the towns around it, from Downers Grove and Westmont to Willowbrook and Woodridge. With four elementary school districts and three high school districts serving different parts of the city, I make sure buyers, sellers and relocating clients know exactly what comes with each address.

• 500+ homes sold or partnered on
• 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices President's Circle
• ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR and Corporate Mobility Specialist (CMS) for relocation

Call or text me at (630) 464-1181, or send me a message.

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