Neighborhood Description Hinsdale is an affluent Chicago suburb located barely in Cook County and mainly DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town is often referred to as the "epicenter" of the teardown phenomenon that has spread nationally, with more than 25% of its housing stock having been replaced with larger, newer homes (most valued in the millions of dollars range) since the mid to late 1980's. It has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown that contains boutique shops and restaurants, and is a 20-minute train ride to downtown Chicago on the BNSF Railway Line. Hinsdale is also known for its excellent public school system, ranked among the best on all levels in the state of Illinois. In 2005, all its elementary schools were ranked in the top 25 in the state.