Niles, IL

The first building, a log cabin, appeared in 1832, followed by a second building in 1834 and the first school in 1838. The town was incorporated in 1899. Although no one is quite sure, some think that Niles draws its name from the construction company, Niles Construction, that built a majority of the town. In 1946 Niles established the first free ambulance service in the state, making it one of only a few free providers in the nation at that time.

Niles has one museum, the Niles Historical and Cultural Center, run by the Niles Historical Society. Niles holds a 4th of July parade and celebration each year and an event called Bike Niles, which features multiple bike courses for riders of all ages.

At La Tavola Trattoria, after utilizing the free valet parking, walk in and be greeted by a serenade of love songs performed by live singers. On a warm afternoon or evening, enjoy your veal marsala or lobster ravioli on the patio. For more casual Italian fare, try Chicago’s finest hotdogs at Celli’s, which are made with Vienna beef. They also feature a variety of gyros, wraps and sandwiches featuring Italian beef and sausage. Plus, you can enjoy them outside at the picnic tables. Siam’s House Restaurant remains a popular Thai option in Niles, serving up pad see ew made with kale instead of broccoli; the unique dish yum pla dook fu, which is a fried catfish salad; and a papaya salad called som tom.

Niles also has a few night clubs, including Layalena Restaurant and Night Club. This Middle Eastern-themed establishment features live music, traditional foods and hookah. At Howard Street Inn, you can watch a sporting event on one of several TVs both inside and outside, or relax in the wrap-around seating area that overlooks the golf course. They feature drink specials each day of the week, including $2 well drinks on Mondays and $3 martinis on Thursdays.

Train transportation includes Metra’s Milwaukee District North Line and the Union Pacific District Northwest Line, both of which provide a quick way to downtown Chicago from Niles. The Niles Free Bus provides service around the community, and the Pace Bus System gives residents another option to reach downtown Chicago and other nearby towns. Residents can use Uber or call a taxi for private transportation.

Niles contains few, if any, public parking lots, as most are privately used by businesses for employees and customers. I-294 to the west, I-90 to the south and I-94 to the east all lie just outside of Niles and can easily be reached via Nile’s main roads. For example, Touhy Avenue takes you to both I-294 and I-94, while Harlem Avenue takes you to I-90. Due to its size, Niles is not very walkable for everyday errands. Most of Niles streets have sidewalks to allow walkers and bikers to get around with ease. Although bikes are allowed on the roads with a license or permit, most do not have bike lanes.

The town of Niles contains 13 free parks. Amenities include play equipment and picnic areas at most parks, lighted tennis courts at five parks, an outdoor ice skating rink at Oak Park, batting cages and miniature golf at Pioneer Park and floor hockey at Washington Terrace Park. While Niles has no specific dog parks, the nearby town of Park Ridge does have an off-leash dog park. Niles’s parks do not host any special events but do contain fun activities for adults and children alike year-round.

The cost of living in Niles scores a 121 on the cost of living index. The cost of goods and services, groceries, housing and transportation are all higher than the national average. The median income hovers around $57,000. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Niles averages around $1,000. The cost of living in Niles is slightly higher than Chicago, which is mostly reflected in a 16 percent increase in housing costs.

Comprised mostly of retail chains, some of Nile’s stores are located around the Golf Mill Shopping Center, while several others span the length of Milwaukee Avenue. A few local businesses include Suit 20/20, specializing in men’s business suits and alteration services; Wings Resale Shop, providing bargains to the community that help support homeless and abused women and children; and North Suburban Floral Services, providing the perfect floral arrangements for any special occasion. Grocery stores located within Niles include Jerry’s Fruit and Garden on Milwaukee Avenue, Fresh Farms on Touhy Avenue and Tony’s Finer Foods at Greenwood Avenue and Dempster Street. Although Niles does not host a farmers market, the nearby communities of Skokie, Morton Grove and Park Ridge do.