You might want to consider Park Ridge, which is next to Des Plaines. It's a more expensive area (but still fits your parameter), but friends who live there don't consider it pretentious. The school district is excellent, and it has a real downtown area.

I live in Niles, which is also next to Des Plaines. It's not a walking community, though, but is one of the safest towns in the country and has one of the lowest property taxes in all of Chicagoland. The school district is also good, especially the high school on my side of town, which also serves part of Des Plaines (Maine East).

Glenview is another suburb to consider, although I don't know about the school district. It's close enough for your commuting time, depending on where in Des Plaines. Like Park Ridge, it's a more expensive area, but friends who live there don't consider it pretentious.

As far as commuting time, I'd forget about Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, Barrington, and Winnetka. They're more than a 1/2 hour commute, especially for work hours and winter snow.