Antioch

The village of Antioch's slogan is “Authentic by Nature,” and living in Tiffany Farms means equal parts outdoor opportunities and suburban amenities. Located along the Chain O’ Lakes and just west of downtown Antioch, the area offers residents plenty to explore, with days on the boats and views from waterside restaurants. Meanwhile, grocery stores and local boutiques downtown sit close by, as well as an elementary and middle school that connects directly to the community. The community’s residential streets are well-connected thanks to a paved walking trail that runs from its entrance to its northernmost point. Sidewalks also abound, running parallel to front yards on both sides of the street. Separating the two are grassy medians, with a tree in front of each home and a streetlight every third. These features and the community’s overall cleanliness are in part thanks to the presence of a homeowners association. New traditional-style homes dominate the community, with occasional ranch or colonial-inspired styles. “Tiffany Farms has bigger houses, and it might appeal more to young families and multi-generational households,” says Marilyn Durante, a Realtor with Lakes Realty Group with 39 years of selling experience in the area. “The price per square foot is a little better than other neighborhoods in Antioch, and you’re just a short drive away from all the action.” These homes, built from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, range in price from $275,000 to $400,000 depending on size and condition. Situated along the Chain, there are several ways to enjoy a day on the water, whether it's launching a private boat at NSCG Bob’s Marina or renting a boat from Your Boat Club Chain O’ Lakes for fishing. When winter rolls around, some take the snowmobile out on the frozen lakes while many make the short 7-mile trip northeast to the slopes of Wilmont Mountain Ski Resort for a day of snow tubing with friends. Farm Park is within the community, home to a small playground for quick play while on a stroll around the neighborhood. With plenty of lakes nearby, the area is full of waterside eateries, including the popular Sand Bar & Grille on Douglas Avenue. After a day on Lake Marie, residents can park their boat along its docks and enjoy drinks and a sunset dinner atop its picnic table-style patio. Tiffany Farms’ proximity to downtown Antioch makes for convenient trips to locally owned spots like The Vegas Café for breakfast and coffee. While downtown, residents can peruse the shelves of Vintage Mercantile – Unconventional Gifts and The Village Thrift Shop or find a new piece for the home at Ms. Peddler’s Boutique. When it’s time for a grocery run, a Jewel-Osco sits less than a half mile from the community’s entrance. W.C. Petty Elementary School, which maintains a C-plus on Niche, is connected to the neighborhood on its southside. Due to its proximity, the school doesn’t offer bus services to Tiffany Farms, meaning most students walk to and from or are dropped off by a guardian. Right next door is the B-minus-rated Antioch Upper Grade School. The school hosts a regular You Make a Difference breakfast, honoring students who are making a positive difference within the school. Meanwhile, older students take the bus to Antioch Community High School, which has an A grade on Niche. Interstate 94 is located 7 miles east, allowing for 58-mile drives south into Chicago and 47.7-mile trips north to Milwaukee. This same route carries travelers to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 43.5 miles south. Closer to home is Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital, situated 14.2 miles northwest along 75th Street.

Sitting just under the state line between Illinois and Wisconsin, North Park residents enjoy an easygoing suburban lifestyle with new traditional homes and parks within walking distance. But the charms of Downtown Antioch are just a short drive down Main Street, and access to northern Illinois’ robust lake system is an easy trip westward. The end result is a comfy suburban neighborhood with a strong connection to the area’s distinctive culture. “North Park stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere and newer homes,” says Marilyn Durante, a broker with Lakes Realty Group. “It’s one of the newer developments in Antioch and attracts young families looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Those interested in more historic homes or lakeside living will want to look at other neighborhoods in the area.” North Park’s linked roads cut and curve through rows of new traditional homes built between the 1990s and the 2020s. Most properties have a subtle Craftsman-influenced look; common design elements include faux shutters, vinyl siding and small porches with columns. Duplex homes on the east side were established first, while the Trevor Creek subdivision on the west side was first established in the 2000s. Single-family home values start at about $305,000 and top out near $450,000; duplex units generally have values between $180,000 and $250,000. W.C. Petty Elementary School earns a C-plus grade on Niche. Antioch’s Parks and Recreation department hosts Ninja Warrior obstacle course classes on campus for kids who love to get moving. Antioch Upper Grade School serves students from sixth to eighth grade and earns a B-minus grade. Encore elective courses at the school include news broadcasting, graphic arts and computer science classes. Antioch Community High School offers more than 40 teams for athletic and academic competitions. The school earns an A grade on Niche. Most of North Park’s convenient shopping options are to the south in downtown Antioch. Piggly Wiggly and Jewel-Osco are mainstays for groceries near Lake Street, while Main Street offers a mix of small businesses. Shops such as The Village Thrift Shop, Rustic & Reclaimed Market and Found Vintage Home & Gifts are staples for unique finds for the home and wardrobe. Xtreme Games offers a range of hobby equipment for varied kinds of fun. Visitors can stock up on retro video game equipment, tabletop game gear, disc golf supplies or birdhouses under a single roof. Folks can also take trips to downtown Antioch for the vibrant food selections. While Lovin' Oven Cakery lives up to the name with a broad selection of cake flavors, locals can also stop by for brunch items, grab a drink from the coffee bar or stock up on seasonal baked goods. Bobby’s Lakeside Restaurant has served all-day diner favorites in Antioch since 1991. Queens Jamaican Kitchen offers jerk chicken and other Caribbean fare for take-out, with the dining room available to rent for special events. Surrounded by the homes along Kennedy Drive, Trevor Creek Park’s open meadow makes it an ideal choice for games of fetch with the dogs or picnics in the springtime. Families can sign up for t-ball and baseball programs. North Park sits on the northeast corner of the neighborhood and offers a basketball half-court. A short trail on the west side of the park leads to the fishing pond. Both neighborhood parks have playgrounds and about 3 acres of space. South of the neighborhood, tennis and pickleball players can stop by Jensen Park to get practice matches in. Boating and fishing enthusiasts can head west for days on the waters of Lake Catherine, Lake Marie and Channel Lake. Main Street/Illinois Route 83 connects the North Park area to the rest of Antioch and Wisconsin to the north. The heart of the village is about 2 miles south of the neighborhood. Residents traveling to Milwaukee can expect a 47-mile drive north, while Chicago is about 60 miles south. Commuters going toward the Windy City can also save on gas by taking the Metra rail from the Antioch station, 2 miles south. For medical emergencies, Aurora Medical Center Kenosha is about 13 miles northeast of the neighborhood. Locals traveling outside of the Illinois and Wisconsin area can catch flights from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, 40 miles northeast, or Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 45 miles south. North Park’s connections to the Antioch community mean that it’s never too hard to find fun nearby. The Lodge at Antioch is a pub downtown with regular programming throughout the week, from karaoke and DJ nights to acoustic breakfast and lunch events on the weekends. Elsewhere on Main Street, The Rivalry Alehouse offers its own slate of live music, hosting shows on its rooftop lounge. The Palette, Masque & Lyre Theater produces a mix of plays and musicals in town. It’s been in Antioch since 1960 and has staged more than 60 seasons of shows run by and for community members. Additional entertainment awaits at the Antioch Theatre, the village’s local cinema. The movie house celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2024 and offers rotating new releases and curated classics on two screens.

Lakeside living is the hallmark of Heron Harbor, an Antioch community bordering the banks of lakes Marie and Tranquility. It’s where pontoon boats and kayaks are launched, neighbors meander through waterfront parks, and new traditional homes line secluded cul-de-sac streets. “People are out walking in the neighborhood all the time to get to the lakes, and it feels like you’re in the country, but by the same token, you’ve got the ability to get in your car and drive 2 miles to downtown Antioch with all of its wonderful restaurants and independent shops,” says Kimberly Schnoor, Team Leader of the Kimberly Schnoor Team with RE/MAX Advantage Realty. Residents here have nature at their doorstep. Lake Marie is one of 15 that make up Illinois’ connected Chain O’Lakes, and while several homes provide private waterfront access, there are public launches around the area. Anchor Pointe Marina provides several docks and boat storage, while Chain O’Lakes Boat Rentals offers pontoons for a half- or full day on the water. Just east of the lake is its namesake nature preserve, which features walking trails. Pederson Park offers another lakeside option. The greenspace borders Lake Tranquility – a popular spot for fishing and picnics. There’s also a small, mulched playground for kids. Homes along Heron Harbor’s sidewalk-lined streets have been developed over the last 30 years, and many have seen modern updates in the form of new roofing and windows. “Tract Developers built out that whole area, and it was extended out in the 1990s,” says Marilyn Durante, a Realtor with Lakes Realty Group. “We have spurts of growth around here, and many times, with those spurts of housing, kids who go away to college come back here to settle. We have a lot of multi-generational residents here, and they stick around.” Colonials and new traditional homes are the most common option in Heron Harbor, selling for $350,000 to $995,000. Well-kept front lawns ranging from a third to a half-acre create some elbow room and have been landscaped with mature trees and entryway gardens. Some maintenance-free townhouses are scattered throughout the community, priced between $275,000 and $345,000. While Heron Harbor offers a peaceful residential retreat, a short 2-mile drive north will lead to downtown Antioch’s Main Street, lined with local stores and eateries. “There are so many options for whatever you’re looking for, but Rivalry Ale House is excellent, 15 Lakes is a newer steakhouse that just opened, and Oliverii North is one of my favorites,” Schnoor says. “It’s got a varied menu, but there are a lot of Italian and seafood dishes. Once you park downtown, you can walk to any of these places.” Before reaching the downtown district, locals pass by Jewel-Osco, the closest grocery option. Several other casual eateries are situated close to the shores of the surrounding lakes, including Antioch Pizza Shop, which serves up a mix of thin crust and deep-dish Chicago-style pies. Lake’s Pancake House is a classic diner with a homey atmosphere known for its hearty breakfast platters. Emmons School District 33 serves students living in Heron Harbor. They’ll attend Emmons School, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche, for prekindergarten through eighth grade. The school is just a mile south of the neighborhood, so commutes rarely exceed 5 minutes. At Antioch Community High School, students can participate in a wide range of extracurriculars, including a disc golf club and an esports club, or they can compete on the bass fishing team. The high school receives an A rating from Niche. Interstate 94 sits east of Antioch, offering a direct route to both Milwaukee and Chicago. The former sits roughly 50 miles north, while the latter is nearly 60 miles south. Public transportation is also available through the Antioch Metra station. It links locals to the Purple Line, which runs to Chicago’s Union Station.

Before the invention of refrigerators, the waters of Lake Catherine were cultivated for ice and transported by rail into nearby cities like Chicago to keep goods cool during the hot summer months. Later, Vacationers caught onto its tranquil feel and began building homes along its shores. Days here are spent boating on the water and exploring the shops of downtown Antioch, a couple of miles east. "Lake Catherine has one of my favorite subdivisions, Felters, that has probably the best lakefront property in the northwest suburbs,” says local Realtor Marilyn Durante with Lakes Realty Group. “The houses face west, so they get the sunset, which is what lakefront buyers want. The houses not on lakefront property still have great community docks. You can live off the lake and still feel like you’re on it.” Residents have immediate access to the lake thanks to private docks and nearby boat launches like NSCG Bob’s Marina LLC on State Route 173, which also offers rentals. A sandbar separating Catherine Lake from Channel Lake has become a popular spot for locals to wade with a drink while catching up with friends and neighbors. Typical water activities like sunset boat rides, tubing and fishing for bluegills and largemouth bass also occur during warmer months. The surrounding area has plenty of hiking opportunities to explore off the water. “I like to like at Lake Geneva a half hour north,” says Don Zienty, longtime resident and owner of the local Lakeshore Builders. “It has a beautiful trail that runs around the lake's shoreline, which my grandkids always enjoy.” The community’s narrow residential streets wrap around the lake, where mostly ranch-style homes sit alongside a handful of new traditional styles. Plots sit between 0.3 and 0.65 acres, almost all featuring a detached shed for easy storage and transportation of private watercraft. These homes were built through the mid-to-late 20th century and into the early 2000s and range in price from $65,000 to $570,000, while larger turn-key homes sitting waterfront can reach up to $1.3 million. Lake Catherine's proximity to downtown Antioch, a mile drive east on State Route 173, ensures residents can easily access local shops like The Village Thrift Shop and Rustic and Reclaimed Market, and spots like Little Bean Coffee Company, a great place to get a sandwich and get some work done thanks to its free Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, 2 miles west along the same road leads to patio dining at Choppers Bar and Grill, where many enjoy its all-day breakfast menu. When it’s time to pick up groceries, residents head to a Jewel-Osco downtown along Lake Street. Downtown Antioch also offers several events for locals, including the Antioch Taste of Summer in July. The four-day celebration includes a Sidewalk Sale that fills Main Street while rotating live bands take the stage at Antioch Bandshell. To pair are local food vendors and activities for all ages, like Relay Race Sunday and Touch a Truck, where little ones get a close-up look at local firetrucks. Residents can also take a short boat ride south to Blarney Island in Grass Lake to catch a drag boat race every Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Students will begin their education at W.C. Petty Elementary School, which maintains a C-plus rating on Niche. Following this, older students will head to Antioch Upper Grade School, which has a B-minus rating, before attending Antioch Community High School. The High school holds an A rating and offers 29 sports-based summer camps, ranging from bowling to cross country. Interstate 94 sits 11 miles east of the neighborhood, allowing for 60-mile commutes south into Chicago and 49-mile drives north to Milwaukee. When paired with I-294, this same route carries travelers to Chicago O’Hare International Airport flights. Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital is closer to home, where those in need can reach the facility along a 15-mile trip via Wilmont Road.