Then and Now

This Chicago suburb got its start back in the late 1800s when lawyer-turned real estate investor, Samual Gross, decided to purchase large pockets of land in the area. Gross wanted a place where working-class families would be able to settle down without breaking the bank. He lured his future homebuyers with promises of free train rides, picnic lunches and his persuasive background in law. Gross must've had his sales pitch nailed, because buyers took the bait and interest in the community spread at an unexpected rate. The new settlement was dubbed Grossdale, after Sam himself.

Before he began building homes, Gross constructed a train station, which now houses the Brookfield Historical Society. The tracks carry such a story that they’ve made the National Register of Historic Places. Gross' success didn't last long, though, and after residents realized his financial failures, they voted to incorporate and rename the city. In 1905 Grossdale became what we now refer to as Brookfield.

The suburb is located within 13 miles of Chicago and is accessible from Ogden Avenue (once known as Plank Toll Road) or the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), which runs parallel to the old thoroughfare. Plenty of city slickers follow these southwestward-leading routes out to Brookfield in order to go to the world-famous Chicago Zoological Park, commonly referred to as the Brookfield Zoo. It opened in the summer of 1934 and has become a destination spot for people from across the map. Brookfield Zoo's extensive educational programs and state-of-the-art research facility has given this suburb of 19,000 international fame and is what the village is best recognized for today. Although, we do think it’s pretty cool Brookfield is one of the few places to house a replica of the Liberty Bell, fashioned from the exact mold of the original in Philadelphia.
[Back To Top]

Real Estate

Brookfield has a diverse inventory of homes for sale, including both detached single-family homes and multiunit condominiums. Average property values here are reasonable and offer decent space for your dollar. There is a mix of older frame houses, rehabbed residences, split-levels, raised ranches, two-story homes, townhouse complexes, new developments and everything in between.

Some Brookfield lots are crowded together with back alley detached garage entrances, more reminiscent of outlying Chicago neighborhood streets than a suburban town. But there plenty of spacious properties with big green grass yards, mature trees shading the house, and attached garages to balance out the decidedly urban blocks.

Brookfield Residential Real Estate Info for Single-Family Detached Homes

Average Sale Price 2005-2006	Average # of Days on the Market	Number of Sales 2005-2006	One Year Price Change	Price Change Since 94
$275,113	46	231	10%	116%

Source: Multiple Listings Service of Northern Illinois
[Back To Top]

School's In Session

Aside from its outdoor attractions and historical artifacts, this Chicago suburb offers some of the best in education. The top three school districts here are LaGrange, Riverside and Lyons, all rated highly by the state.
[Back To Top]