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Darien has been dubbed a “nice place to live” and for all the right reasons. This beautiful Chicago suburb is in a great location. Darien is a center of education, business, and employment with easy access to the city of Chicago. If you’re planning on moving to Chicago and considering if Darien is the right suburb for you, this guide contains all the necessary information to help make the decision easy. If you need any help with your storage needs in Darien, MI-BOX has you covered.

Darien’s original settlers were several Native American communities. In 1830, things began to change with the settlement of the Cass and Lass communities as people from the eastern United States and from Europe migrated to the area. The Cass and Lass communities both had churches as the center of the residents’ religious and social lives. The Cass community had the Cass Methodist Episcopal Church, which is unfortunately no longer in existence. The Lass community had St. John Lutheran Church. You can learn more about these original settlers at the Darien Historical Society Museum, which is in the Old Lace Schoolhouse.

In 1869, Martin Madden emigrated to Darien. He built a summer home that was made to resemble the White House and called it Castle Eden. This establishment now stands as a part of the Carmelite Spiritual Center. Madden was later elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served from 1905 to 1928.

As part of the post-WWII boom, the area continued to grow. The expansion of paved roads allowed residents to commute into Chicago. Farms became subdivisions, and the population grew. Older residents still like to discuss the stretches of wild asparagus fields and apple orchards.

As more and more people moved to the region, it became clear that there was a need for more comprehensive city services. The communities of Marion Hils, Brookhaven, Hinsbrook, and Clarefield decided to combine into a single city. They formed the Combined Homeowners Committee for Incorporation. Sam Kelley was one of the committee members. Sam had recently enjoyed a trip to Darien, Connecticut, and suggested the name. The others on the committee agreed, and the city of Darien was born.

Darien has a total area of 6.3 square miles or 16.3 square kilometers. This is mostly land mass, as water makes up only 1.95% of the area. Darien is easy to get to, with several major highways nearby, including Interstate 55, Interstate 355, and Interstate 294. The cities surrounding Darien include Westmont, Downers Grove, Lemont, Woodridge, and Willowbrook. Ironically, Darien’s City Hall is surrounded on three sides by the village of Downers Grove. Another odd but interesting fact about the city hall is that only 25% of the building stands above ground.

One of the geographic gems of Darien is the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. This reserve contains more than 700 native plant species and 300 animal species. It has a 10-mile hiking trail that serves as a hub for cycling, jogging, and horseback riding. The trail runs through wooded regions and grassland with a teeming variety of wildlife. The nature reserve features one natural waterfall and one human-made waterfall. Amusingly, the park was not named after either of these attractions. It is actually named after Seymour ‘Bud’ Waterfall, an ex-president of the Forest Preserve District. If you need to get a taste of the great outdoors, Waterfall Glen is worth the visit. 

The temperature in Darien ranges from 18°F to 84°F throughout the year and rarely falls below -1°F or rises above 92°F. Summers here are hot and humid, while the winters can be windy and cold. The hottest month in Darien is July, with an average high temperature of 83.8°, which is cooler than most of Illinois in the summer. Historically, January is the city’s coldest month, with an average low temperature of 15°F.

Darien’s annual average rainfall is 39 inches, which is quite close to the US average of 38 inches. The wettest month is August, which receives an average of 4.4 inches of rain, and February is the driest with an average of 1.9 inches of precipitation. Autumn is the wettest season, receiving 32% of the city’s yearly rainfall, while spring is the driest and receives 16% of the annual precipitation.

The average amount of snowfall seen in Darien is 28 inches annually. Compared to other cities in Illinois, Darien is one of the snowiest and receives significant snowfall for nearly six months of the year. The good news is that you can store your snow blower and other offseason gear in climate-controlled storage facilities at MI-BOX.

The population of Darien is 22,206, making it the 112th largest city in Illinois. The median age of a Darien resident is 45 years, and the median household income is $84,359. The ethnicity is divided mainly amongst 5 groups: White Non-Hispanic (74.8%), Asian Non-Hispanic (12.3%), White Hispanic (4.82%), Two or More Races Non-Hispanic (3.35%), and Black Non-Hispanic (3%). The homeownership rate is 81.7% here. The average car ownership is two cars per household. The poverty rate in Darien is just under 6% of the population.

Darien has a strong economy due to a well-educated workforce and diverse industries in the surrounding area. The unemployment rate (pre-COVID) was 3.3%, which was well below the national average. The average income for a Darien resident is just over $40,000 per year, which is significantly higher than the US average of $28,555.

Darien also has a strong local Chamber of Commerce, which promotes business needs within the community. The Chamber holds luncheon meetings regularly with guest speakers. Local businesses have raved about the great networking opportunities that the Chamber meetings have brought them. There is also an annual Darien Fest, an end-of-summer fair where local business get together to promote their companies

The city of Darien is a volunteer-oriented community. The municipal services work closely with citizen volunteers and business organizations alike. There is a strong sense of community in Darien, and the residents are always working to make the city a better place. This Chicago suburb emits a unique atmosphere that attracts people from near and far. The city is especially inviting to new employees and students moving to Chicago after college.

There are certain things about the food in Chicago that set this city apart from any other. For example, one simply does not ask for ketchup on your Chicago style hotdog. Chicago and Darien pride themselves on their unique style of cuisine.

When in Darien, be sure to head over to 221 Main Street where you will find Nick’s Tavern for all the American favorites. Bodega Taco Bar is another hidden gem in Darien, where you can enjoy some baja and brussel sprouts. To get the full Chicago experience, Giordano’s Pizza is a must-visit. Their Chicago style deep dish pizza is some of the best in the city. In the morning, stop by Sugar Bowl on Boston Post Road for some coffee and breakfast.

Just like other towns in Chicago, Darien also has its fair share of celebrity origins. Perhaps, the most popular one is Barbara Alyn Woods, who starred in ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids.’ Other famous residents include Matt Mayberry, a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears, Manu Raju, the eminent journalist, and Doug Lussenhop, musician and comedian who works with the duo Tim and Eric. Jennifer Reeder’s famous horror film ‘Knives and Skin’ was filmed in Lemont, a neighboring suburb. The film features scenes from Lemont High School, Heritage Quarries, and other areas central to Darien.

There are also great places to visit and relax in Darien, Illinois. Hinsbrook Park is a popular gather place where you can indulge in a variety of activities, including taking a walk, bird-watching, playing sports, and picnicking. You can also go for long hikes on the trails of Oldfield Oaks County Forest Preserve. The Darien Sportsplex provides recreation all year round with its indoor sports facilities.

Throughout the summer, there are several summer camps and other activities for families in Darien and neighboring towns to enjoy. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, College of DuPage, Darien Park District, Hinsdale Parks and Recreation Department, and Clarendon Hills all have exciting camps planned every summer that get children up and moving. There are also sports camps such as Nike’s overnight soccer camp for both boys and girls. Basically, every season in Darien has something for everyone. And of course, while you enjoy summer sports you can store your winter activity gear in MI-BOX’s mobile storage containers.

DuPage County stands 27th amongst more than 3,000 counties in the US. Darien is one of the top communities in DuPage county in terms of income. With neighboring communities such as Burr Ridge and Lemont, it is nestled in an excellent location. The city has a good balance of multiple residential and private residential buildings. Thanks to the exceptional combination of a high-rated school system, affordable housing, and a very low crime rate, a lot of families thinking of moving to Chicago have Darien at the top of their list.

As far as transportation is concerned, Darien is pretty well-connected. Roughly 20 northeast of Darien is Chicago O’Hare Airport, a major global transportation hub. Chicago Midway Airport is located about 12 miles to the east of Darien and serves as a smaller commercial airport. Darien residents also have the Chicagoland commuter railway (Metra), which goes from Darien to downtown Chicago. Almost all areas in Darien have a railway station nearby. Plus, the PACE commuter bus network connects Darien with nearby suburbs and the commuter rail service.

The median home value in Darien is $321,500, and the median rent is $1,195. Darien takes pride in its many community parks and public outdoor spaces, making it an ideal community to move to for families with children.

The schools in Darien are another reason why moving to this suburb is an excellent decision. A majority of Darien students attend Downers Grove South High School, with the balance attending Hinsdale South High School. Cass Junior High School and Eisenhower Junior High School operate in Darien along with Mark-DeLay Elementary School, Lace Elementary School, Elizabeth Ide Elementary School, and Concord Elementary School. There are also local private schools such as Our Lady of Peace and Kingswood Academy, which students can attend through eighth grade. Darien’s schools’ quality is one of the driving factors in why people move to Darien, IL.

The overall crime rate in Darien is 12 per 1000 residents. When you compare this to other communities of the same size, Darien’s crime is relatively low. The violent crime rate here is 1 per thousand residents, which is close to the American average across communities of various population sizes. The rate of property crime here is 11 per 1000 citizens.  In terms of safety, Darien ranks highly because of Darien Safety Village, a community organization that is devoted to safety of the city’s children. The program has won the prestigious Illinois Governor’s Hometown Award twice since the year 1990 for its excellent programs. The Safety Village was created by residents David and Cindie Hagen, whose son tragically lost his life in an accident. The facility includes a child-sized town with small buildings, safety signs, and streets for hands-on training.

Moving to Chicago, and specifically to Darien, would surely be one of the best decisions you could make. Darien has excellent schools, a multitude of parks, and a diverse community. Whether it is for the excellent Chicago style food, the beautiful scenery, or the inviting atmosphere, Darien is a suburb unlike any other, and a great place to call home.