A quaint Midwestern town of brick-and-mortar shops founded 189 years ago is evolving from its longstanding reputation as a sleepy bedroom community to an increasingly popular enclave for professionals seeking to trade big-city life for a thriving suburb.

Since the pandemic, the city of Elmhurst, Ill., west of Chicago, has experienced an uptick in families moving in for more space and an easier commute. Although 20 miles from the city, Elmhurst residents can soak in the Chicago skyline when looking east on St. Charles Road, and the Metra express train can transport them to downtown Chicago in about 30 minutes.

Aside from Elmhurst’s location, its perks include more than 20 parks and a segment of the Illinois Prairie Path, a 62-mile-long bike trail and the first “rail-to-trail” conversion in the country, according to the Elmhurst Park District.

Location: DuPage and Cook Counties, 16 miles west of Chicago’s Loop

Population: 45,786

Area: 10.2 square miles

Homeownership: 80 percent

The vibe: A residential feel recalling television’s Wisteria Lane, with freshly manicured lawns and a vibrant downtown