If you are relocating to Chicago's northern suburbs, there is a good chance Northbrook and Glenview are both on your shortlist. They sit next to each other, they share a border, and from the outside they can look interchangeable. They are not.
I live in Northbrook. My main office is in Glenview. I have sold homes in both communities since 2006, and I get asked to compare them almost weekly. Here is the honest version of the answer I give clients, without the brochure language.
The quick Answer
Both are excellent. You will not make a mistake choosing either one. The real differences come down to downtown character, commute preferences, school district boundaries, and housing stock. Glenview has The Glen and a slightly more walkable, newer-feeling core. Northbrook offers a classic village downtown, larger lots in many neighborhoods, and quick access to both the Edens and 294. The right choice usually reveals itself once you know what your daily life needs to look like.
Location and Commute
Glenview sits slightly closer to the city, and both suburbs are served by Metra's Milwaukee District North Line. Glenview has two stations (Glenview and The Glen of North Glenview), while Northbrook has one downtown station on the same line.
If you drive, the calculus shifts. Northbrook has direct access to I-94 and I-294, which matters if your work takes you toward O'Hare, the northwest suburbs, or Wisconsin. Glenview drivers typically feed into the Edens at Willow or Lake.
My practical advice: do your actual commute, at your actual commute time, from a specific address before you write an offer. I ask every relocating client to do this. It changes minds more often than any open house does.
Downtowns and Daily Life
This is where the two communities feel most different.
Glenview is anchored by The Glen Town Center, a mixed-use development built on the former Glenview Naval Air Station. It gives Glenview something few suburbs have: a newer, planned core with restaurants, shopping, a movie theater, and housing all in one place. Downtown Glenview along Glenview Road has its own character as well, and the corridor continues to add dining and retail.
Northbrook offers a more traditional village downtown centered around Shermer Road, plus Northbrook Court, which is in the middle of a major redevelopment that will hopefully reshape retail and add residential density over the coming years. Day to day, Northbrook life tends to organize around the village green, the park district, and neighborhood pockets.
If a walkable, activity-dense town center is a priority, Glenview usually wins that conversation. If you prefer a quieter, more classic suburban rhythm, Northbrook tends to fit.
Schools
Both communities feed into Glenbrook High School District 225, meaning students attend either Glenbrook North (Northbrook) or Glenbrook South (Glenview). Both are consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Illinois, so at the high school level, this is close to a tie.
The elementary and middle school picture is more complicated, and this is where buyers need to be careful. Northbrook is served primarily by Districts 27, 28, 30, and 31. Glenview is served primarily by Districts 34 and 30, with some addresses falling into other districts. Boundaries do not follow village lines neatly. Two homes a few blocks apart can feed different schools.
I verify school assignment on every transaction rather than relying on listing data, because listing data gets this wrong more often than you would expect. If schools are driving your search, make district verification part of your offer diligence, not something you check after closing.
Housing Stock and Price
Both markets offer everything from mid-century ranches and split-levels to new construction, with most single-family activity concentrated in a broadly similar price range. A few practical differences I see in the field:
- Lot sizes: Many Northbrook neighborhoods, particularly east and west of downtown, offer larger lots than comparable Glenview subdivisions. If yard space matters, that tilts Northbrook.
- New construction: Glenview saw a wave of teardown and infill construction over the past two decades, and The Glen added significant newer inventory. Northbrook's new construction tends to be more scattered, lot by lot.
- Condos and townhomes: Both have solid attached-home inventory, with Glenview's concentrated around The Glen and Northbrook's spread across established developments.
Pricing in both communities moves with the same North Shore fundamentals: inventory remains tight, well-priced homes in top school pockets move quickly, and homes that need updating are seeing more negotiation room than turnkey properties. If you want current numbers for a specific neighborhood or district boundary, reach out and I will run the actual comps rather than quoting a stale average.
Taxes
Property taxes are substantial in both communities, as they are across Cook County's north suburbs. The differences between the two villages are usually smaller than the differences between individual homes, because assessments, exemptions, and school district levies vary property by property. When clients compare two specific homes, I pull the actual tax bills and any pending assessment appeals. Never compare suburbs on taxes in the abstract. Compare the two actual houses you are considering.
So Which One Is Right for You?
Here is the shorthand I use with clients:
Glenview tends to fit buyers who want a walkable town center, newer housing stock, two Metra stations, and a slightly closer position to the city.
Northbrook tends to fit buyers who want larger lots, a classic village feel, direct expressway access in multiple directions, and quick reach to both the North Shore and the northwest suburbs.
And plenty of my clients have toured both and chosen based on a single house that felt right. That is a legitimate way to decide too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northbrook or Glenview more expensive?
It depends on the neighborhood and school pocket more than the village name. Both markets span a wide range, and premium pockets in each community command similar prices. A specific comparison requires current comps, which I am happy to run for any address.
Do Northbrook and Glenview share a high school district?
Yes. Both are in Glenbrook District 225. Northbrook students generally attend Glenbrook North and Glenview students generally attend Glenbrook South.
Which suburb has a better commute to downtown Chicago?
Both are on the same Metra line. Glenview is slightly closer and has two stations. Drivers may prefer Northbrook for its direct access to I-94 and I-294.
Can you help me compare specific homes in both suburbs?
That is exactly what I do. I live in Northbrook, office in Glenview, and can walk you through the tradeoffs street by street.
Scott Ottenheimer is a licensed managing broker and leads Ottenheimer Group at Compass, serving Chicago and the North Shore since 2006. Thinking about a move to Northbrook or Glenview? Contact us or explore our Northbrook and Glenview neighborhood guides.
