Des Plaines Neighborhood Guide
Des Plaines is an established northwest suburb of Chicago located in Cook County approximately 17 miles from downtown Chicago and just north of O’Hare International Airport. The city is generally bordered by Mount Prospect to the north, Park Ridge to the east, Rosemont to the south, and Elk Grove Village to the west. Des Plaines is named for the Des Plaines River, which runs through the community and has historically shaped the area’s growth and identity.
Des Plaines real estate includes single-family homes, condominiums, townhouse developments, smaller multifamily buildings, apartment complexes, and mixed-use properties located near downtown districts and transportation corridors. For buyers and investors researching Des Plaines real estate, the city offers a mix of residential housing and multifamily investment opportunities within one of Chicago’s better-known northwest suburban communities.
Community Highlights
• Downtown Des Plaines: The city’s downtown district features restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and local businesses centered around the Metra station and Miner Street corridor. Downtown has an older established feel, but it has also seen renewed interest through theatre restoration, public improvements, and mixed-use development.• Des Plaines River and Trail System: The river and trail network help distinguish the community from many surrounding suburbs. The trail system and nearby forest preserve areas add recreational value and help create a stronger outdoor identity than many other suburban housing markets.
• Metra Commuter Rail Access: Des Plaines is served by the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line, providing direct commuter rail access to downtown Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This is an important factor for both homeowners and renters who want suburban living with city access.
• O’Hare Area Access: Located near O’Hare International Airport and major highways including I-90 and I-294, Des Plaines provides strong regional transportation access. That convenience can also support rental demand and buyer interest, particularly for commuters and those working in the broader airport corridor.
• Established Residential Character: Des Plaines has a mix of older neighborhoods, post-war housing, apartment buildings, and newer redevelopment near downtown. That gives the city a broader range of housing stock than many suburbs that lean heavily toward only one housing type.
Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Des Plaines
Des Plaines is not just a bedroom suburb. It has several destinations and attractions that help define the city and add to its appeal for residents, visitors, and property owners.• Downtown Des Plaines – Downtown Des Plaines offers shopping, dining, entertainment, and transit access in one concentrated area. The city has emphasized the district’s historic character, theatre restoration, and walkable commercial core, which helps support both local business activity and nearby real estate demand.
• Des Plaines Theatre – The Des Plaines Theatre is one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Its renovation and reopening helped strengthen the downtown district and gave the city a recognizable entertainment anchor that attracts visitors from beyond the immediate area.
• Des Plaines Public Library and Downtown Des Plaines – The public library and nearby civic institutions help make downtown more than just a commercial strip. They bring regular foot traffic, community programming, and a stable neighborhood feel to the city center.
• Des Plaines River Trail System – The river trail is a major recreational asset in the broader area, giving residents and visitors access to walking, biking, and natural open space. For many buyers, access to trails and green space is a meaningful quality-of-life feature.
• Des Plaines History Center – For people interested in local history, the history center adds another cultural layer to the community. It helps reinforce Des Plaines as an established suburb with a longer civic and residential history than many newer outer-ring suburbs.
• Rivers Casino and Entertainment Center – A major entertainment destination in the Des Plaines area that adds to the city’s regional visibility and visitor traffic.
Population and Community
Des Plaines has a population of more than 60,000 residents and is widely recognized as a diverse suburban community with a mix of long-time residents, homeowners, renters, professionals, and multi-generational households. The city blends traditional suburban neighborhoods with a more active downtown core than many nearby communities. That mix can make Des Plaines attractive to buyers who want suburban living without giving up transportation access, walkability in select areas, or proximity to employment centers.Housing and Real Estate in Des Plaines
Des Plaines offers a broad range of housing options including single-family homes, condominiums, apartment buildings, and multifamily investment properties. Residential development in the city expanded significantly after World War II and continued with growth tied to regional transportation networks and nearby O’Hare International Airport.Compared to many Chicago neighborhoods, Des Plaines often offers larger residential lots, more suburban street layouts, and easier access to highways, rail service, and airport-related employment. Compared to some other northwest suburbs, it also offers a more varied housing mix that includes not just detached homes, but also condominiums, apartment buildings, and mixed-use opportunities near the downtown district.
Des Plaines Real Estate Snapshot
• The city contains a mix of single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, and multifamily apartment buildings.• Smaller multifamily buildings such as 2–4 flats can be found in portions of the community, especially in older established areas.
• Apartment buildings with five or more units are located throughout the city and contribute to the local rental housing supply.
• Mixed-use buildings with commercial space and residential apartments are often found near downtown Des Plaines and transportation corridors.
• Des Plaines continues to attract buyers searching for multifamily investment properties in Chicago’s northwest suburban market because of transportation access, established housing stock, and steady renter appeal.
2-4 Flat Investment Properties in Des Plaines
Two-to-four unit buildings appear in portions of Des Plaines and can provide opportunities for both owner-occupants and investors seeking rental income properties. These smaller multifamily buildings are often located within established residential neighborhoods and can appeal to buyers who want to offset housing costs by renting out additional units.View current 2-4 flats for sale in Des Plaines
5+ Unit Apartment Buildings
Des Plaines contains apartment buildings with five or more residential units ranging from smaller walk-up buildings to larger multifamily complexes. Investors often consider Des Plaines because of its proximity to O’Hare Airport, transportation access, and established rental demand within the northwest suburban corridor.For buyers looking at larger multifamily assets, Des Plaines can offer a different profile than many city neighborhoods. The suburban setting, regional transportation access, and broad renter base can make the market appealing to investors seeking apartment buildings outside of Chicago proper.
View current 5+ unit apartment buildings for sale in Des Plaines
Mixed-Use Properties
Mixed-use buildings in Des Plaines typically include retail storefronts, restaurants, offices, or service businesses on the ground floor with residential apartments above. These properties are commonly located near downtown Des Plaines and along commercial corridors throughout the city.For some investors, mixed-use buildings can offer a different income profile than standard apartment buildings because they combine residential rental income with commercial tenancy. In a city like Des Plaines, where downtown and transportation access matter, these properties can be especially worth watching.
View current mixed-use properties for sale in Des Plaines
Des Plaines Multifamily Sales Data
Recent multifamily sales can help buyers, sellers, and building owners understand how apartment buildings have been trading in and around Des Plaines and across the broader Chicago market. The resources below include both overview explanations and detailed market data pages.2–4 Unit Building Sales
• 2025 Chicago 2–4 Unit Building Sales Overview – introduction, market explanation, and sample sales data for 2-flats, 3-flats, and 4-unit buildings.• Interactive 2–4 Unit Sales Data – explore the detailed sales data and filter results including buildings near Des Plaines.
5+ Unit Apartment Building Sales
• 2025 Chicago Apartment Cap Rate Report – market trends, cap rate ranges, apartment investment research, and investment insights for Chicago apartment buildings.• Interactive 5+ Unit Apartment Sales Data – review the detailed sales data for larger apartment buildings including those near Des Plaines.
Des Plaines Community Resources
Des Plaines is supported by several organizations and institutions that help strengthen the city’s business environment and community life.• City of Des Plaines – Provides city services, local government information, community programs, and neighborhood resources.
• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Supports local businesses, networking opportunities, and economic development within the Des Plaines community.
• Des Plaines Public Library – A major community institution providing educational programming, public resources, and community activity in the downtown area.
• Des Plaines History Center – Preserves and shares the city’s local history through exhibits, archives, and educational programming.
Multifamily Investment Opportunities in Des Plaines
Des Plaines is often researched by investors looking for multifamily investment properties in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The city contains a mix of smaller apartment buildings, larger multifamily complexes, and mixed-use properties located near downtown districts and transportation corridors.Because of its proximity to O’Hare International Airport, Metra commuter rail service, and several major highways, Des Plaines continues to attract investors searching for apartment buildings, rental properties, and mixed-use investment opportunities in the suburban Chicago market.
It can also appeal to investors who want a location outside Chicago city limits while still maintaining strong regional connectivity. For some buyers, that suburban setting and commuter access are part of what makes Des Plaines worth a closer look.
Real Estate Questions About Des Plaines
Are there apartment buildings in Des Plaines?Yes. Des Plaines contains a variety of apartment buildings ranging from smaller multifamily buildings to larger residential complexes located throughout the city.
Are there multifamily investment properties in Des Plaines?
Investors often research Des Plaines because of its location near O’Hare Airport, commuter rail access, established residential neighborhoods, and broader northwest suburban rental demand.
Are mixed-use buildings common in Des Plaines?
Mixed-use properties can be found near downtown Des Plaines and along major commercial corridors where retail, office, or service space is combined with residential apartments.
Is Des Plaines a good suburb for multifamily investment?
Many investors consider Des Plaines because of transportation access, proximity to employment centers, a varied housing stock, and the mix of owner-occupied and rental property demand.
Does Des Plaines have commuter access to downtown Chicago?
Yes. Metra service from Des Plaines is one of the city’s key transportation features and is a meaningful advantage for many buyers, renters, and property owners.
What makes Des Plaines different from some other northwest suburbs?
Des Plaines stands out because it combines established neighborhoods, a real downtown district, commuter rail access, proximity to O’Hare, multifamily housing, and a broader mix of property types than many nearby suburbs.
With the expertise of Mark Latuszek, a real estate professional specializing in multifamily and investment properties, buyers and sellers can better navigate the Des Plaines real estate market. Whether you are searching for a home, condominium, multifamily investment property, or apartment building, Mark’s local knowledge helps identify opportunities throughout the Des Plaines community and Chicago’s northwest suburban market.
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Weichert, Realtors® - All Pro - Park Ridge may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved.Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of September 13, 2026 9:55 PM UTC All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice.
Data is updated as of September 13, 2026 9:55 PM UTC
