Saint Charles, Illinois has a tough time deciding whether it is a commuter town or a thriving urban area of its own. On the face of it, this 30,000 resident town in Kane County could easily pass as a commuter haven, having excellent access to Elgin and Chicago, both only a 40 minutes drive of the town. If you look deeper however, Saint Charles, Illinois has its own character, developed over the years from its rich ancestry of Irish, Swedish and Italian residents.

One of the three cities in the Tri-cities fox valley (Geneva and Batavia are the other two), Saint Charles, Illinois attracts a large number of professional graduates, encouraged to live in the area by the strong manufacturing and professional services ties that the town has; these two areas of employment account for around 25% of the work force. Desirable property prices have also helped to expand the population base and diversity of the town and with prices starting at less than $100,000 for a family home real estate is definitely affordable; with some of the lowest tax rates in the state the prices are even more of a bargain.

Proximity to Chicago is a major bonus for Saint Charles, Illinois. Whether its taking the short commute to work or visiting the big city for shopping, being only a 40 minute drive from the windy city has distinct advantages. Easy highway and interstate access also means that, should you need it, O’Hare international airport is within easy access too.