Inverness, Lincolnshire among nation’s top 100 suburbs

Given its lack of retail, restaurants and commercial space, the quiet hamlet that is Inverness may be unfamiliar to some.

But that could change with the village’s appearance on Coldwell Banker’s list of the nation’s top 100 suburbs. Inverness cracked the international real estate company’s rankings at No. 88, joined in the Chicago area only by Lincolnshire at No. 94.

“Inverness is a jewel in the Northwest suburbs,” Village President Jack Tatooles said. “But not many people have heard of us because we’re not high profile.”

Compiling data from more than 11,000 suburban areas, the rankings looked at access to amenities, safety, proximity to good schools and homeownership. It also considered commute times and high numbers of people who eat in and commute by car — quintessential characteristics of suburban life, according to Coldwell Banker.

Tatooles pointed to the easy drive from Inverness, which has a population of about 7,300 people, to Metra stations, Woodfield Mall and other commercial areas. Meanwhile, the mainly residential village maintains its own open spaces and country-like feel. Fences aren’t even permitted.

“We were a green community before they were in fashion,” Tatooles said.

Coldwell Banker ranked the top-5 suburbs for each state. Behind Inverness and Lincolnshire in Illinois were Kildeer, Deerfield and Western Springs.

The top-5 suburbs nationally are located outside of Denver, Seattle, New York City and Washington, D.C.