Western Suburbs Property Taxes by Town: The 2026 Comparison

Property taxes are one of the biggest hidden costs of buying in the Chicago western suburbs — and they vary more than most buyers expect. Two towns a few miles apart can differ by thousands of dollars a year on the same-priced home, driven by the county line and each town’s mix of taxing districts. So here’s the straight comparison: every major western suburb, ranked by effective tax rate, with the real estimated bill on a $1,000,000 home.

The comparison table

Town County Effective rate Est. tax on a $1M home
Oak Brook DuPage ~1.1%–1.5% ~$11,000–$15,000
Burr Ridge DuPage / Cook ~1.74%–1.90% ~$17,400–$19,000
Elmhurst DuPage ~1.84%–1.92% ~$18,400–$19,200
Downers Grove DuPage ~1.85% ~$18,500
Clarendon Hills DuPage ~1.96% ~$19,600
Naperville DuPage / Will ~2.0%–2.35% ~$20,000–$23,500
Western Springs Cook ~2.1% ~$21,000
Hinsdale DuPage ~2.2% ~$22,000
La Grange Cook ~2.31% ~$23,100

(Effective rates per Ownwell, the Civic Federation, and the DuPage Policy Journal, 2025–2026. Estimates are rate × $1M before exemptions; actual bills vary by parcel and overlapping districts. Confirm the specific home.)

The spread is real: from Oak Brook at the low end (~1.1%–1.5%) to La Grange at the high end (~2.31%) — a difference of roughly $8,000 to $12,000 a year on a $1M home. Here’s the town-by-town read.

Lowest: Oak Brook (~1.1%–1.5%)

Oak Brook is the clear winner, and it isn’t close. The Village of Oak Brook levies $0 in municipal property tax, funded instead by sales tax from Oakbrook Center. You still pay schools and county, so it’s not free — but it’s the lowest effective rate of all 34 DuPage communities. (Why Oak Brook’s taxes are so low ›)

The DuPage middle: Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills (~1.74%–1.96%)

This is the friendly middle of the pack, all in DuPage. Burr Ridge (~1.74% on the DuPage side) and Elmhurst (~1.85%, held down by a strong commercial base) lead the group; Downers Grove (~1.85%) and Clarendon Hills (~1.96%, below the DuPage average) round it out. For buyers who want a reasonable tax load without Oak Brook’s no-downtown trade-off, this tier is the sweet spot.

The higher end: Naperville, Western Springs, Hinsdale, La Grange (~2.0%–2.31%)

At the top sit the pricier and the Cook-County towns. Naperville (~2.0%–2.35%) varies because it straddles DuPage and Will counties — the Will-County side runs higher. Hinsdale (~2.2%) reflects its premium village. And the two Cook County towns, Western Springs (~2.1%) and La Grange (~2.31%), run high because Cook’s 10% assessment is offset by a 3.0355 multiplier — the effective rate is what lands on your bill. (DuPage vs. Cook taxes explained ›)

Rate vs. bill: an important distinction

One trap to avoid: a town’s median tax bill and its rate are different things. Hinsdale’s median bill (~$19,943) towers over Downers Grove’s (~$11,000) — but that’s mostly because Hinsdale homes are worth far more, not because the rate is dramatically higher (2.2% vs 1.85%). When you compare towns, compare the effective rate (a percent of value), then apply it to the price you’d actually pay. That’s the only fair way to see the real difference.

What it means for you

  • If low taxes are a priority, Oak Brook is unmatched — just know it comes with a car-oriented, no-downtown lifestyle.
  • The DuPage middle (Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills) offers reasonable rates with full-service town life.
  • Cook County towns (Western Springs, La Grange) run higher — budget for it when cross-shopping against DuPage.
  • Always check the county, file your homeowner exemption, and pull the specific parcel for the exact figure.

Want the real tax bill on the specific homes you’re comparing? Send us the addresses across any of these towns and we’ll line up the effective rates and the actual numbers — so taxes never surprise you at closing.

Frequently asked questions

Which western suburb has the lowest property taxes?

Oak Brook, by a wide margin — an effective rate of roughly 1.1%–1.5%, the lowest of DuPage County’s 34 communities, thanks to its $0 municipal tax levy funded by Oakbrook Center sales tax.

Which western suburb has the highest property taxes?

Among the towns compared here, La Grange runs the highest effective rate (~2.31%), followed by Hinsdale (~2.2%) and Western Springs (~2.1%). The Cook County towns run high because of the county’s assessment-plus-multiplier system.

How much is property tax on a $1 million home in the western suburbs?

It ranges from roughly $11,000–$15,000 in Oak Brook to about $23,100 in La Grange — a difference of $8,000–$12,000 a year, depending entirely on the town and county. Always confirm the specific parcel.

Why do similar homes have different tax bills?

The county line and the mix of overlapping taxing districts. Cook County towns carry higher effective rates than DuPage towns, and within Naperville the Will-County portion runs higher than the DuPage portion. Compare effective rates, not assessed values.

Keep reading

About Chicago Estates Co
We focus on Chicago’s western suburbs: Naperville, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Western Springs, La Grange, Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, and the towns around them. These guides come from close, current research into the specific markets we cover, with one goal: straight answers most real-estate sites won’t give you.

Last updated: June 2026. Tax rates change; confirm current figures with the county before you rely on them.

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