Bradley has everyday amenities, and Chicago attractions are close by
Sandwiched between Bourbonnais and Kankakee, Bradley provides a suburban pace away from the big city. “It has a nice small-town feeling, and at the same time, downtown Chicago is an hour away,” says Berry McCracken, a Coldwell Banker broker with nearly 40 years of experience working in Bradley. “You can enjoy the benefits of the city without having to live there.” Residents don’t have to leave Bradley to find parks and commercial development. Instead, the burgeoning community offers accessibility and has formed its own identity, just a quick drive from one of America’s largest metropolises.
Bradley provides a suburban pace away from the big city.
Historic Bradley, IL was founded in 1895 and has a current population of 15,419.
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Recreation on the Kankakee and new activities at Northfield Square Mall
Residents have plenty of outdoor amenities here, from nearby golf courses to youth league baseball fields. Kankakee River State Park is adjacent to Bradley and allows fishing, camping and canoeing. Cross-country skiers replace horseback riders and bikers on the trails during the winter. Perry Farm Park is another spot with a variety of activities: “It’s right on the river and has a creek with some old Indian caves you can explore,” McCracken says. As Bradley grows, more athletic facilities and parks continue to open. Adventure Commons is a new sports complex near the Northfield Square Mall, which will soon undergo redevelopment. “They’re completely reinvigorating the old mall area with Adventure Commons and an indoor water park, which is set to be the largest in Illinois,” McCracken says. “Bradley may not be a destination right now, but they’re really trying to change that.” This mall area also hosts the Bradley 315 music festival and carnival, which is expected to bring in nearly 20,000 visitors for its second year in 2025.
Explore the wilderness on the trails at Kankakee River State Park in nearby Wilmington.
Perry Farm Park, located in Bradley, is a great place to get away from it all.
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Buyers choose from an array of housing styles and prices
The market consists mostly of single-family homes representing various architectural types. Ranch-style and Cape Cod options sit alongside larger colonial and New Traditional houses. Most properties are priced between $150,000 and $450,000, though homes needing major renovations may cost as low as $40,000. Streets typically have a suburban feel, with sidewalks and modest front lawns shaded by mature oak trees.
New traditional and ranch style homes in Bradley are priced between $150,000 and $450,000.
Many updated modern traditional-style homes can be seen throughout Bradley.
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People come from all over the region to shop and dine in Bradley
Despite its suburban feel, the village covers everyday shopping and dining needs. “Bradley has a lot of the county’s retail,” McCracken says. North Bradley Boulevard features numerous plazas with fast food and casual restaurants and big-box stores like Walmart, Target and Meijer. Northfield Square Mall has retail, services and a Cinemark Movie Theatre. Along with chain restaurants, there are many local dining spots. Yolks & Berries is a diner for breakfast and lunch, and Hoppy Pig serves barbecue and happy hour specials.
Yolks & Berries has been a staple for breakfast in Bradley since 2013.
Residents of Bradley can get their weekly groceries at the local Meijer.
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Two school districts and a university in the community
Bradley School District No. 61 enrolls most children, though a small section of northern Bradley is zoned for Bourbonnais School District No. 53 for elementary and middle grades. Bradley East Elementary scores a B-plus on Niche for prekindergarten through second grade, and Bradley West Elementary earns a B-minus for third through fifth grades. Students then head to C-rated Bradley Central Middle and B-rated Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High. According to Niche, the high school has the best teachers in the county for these grade levels. Graduates may apply to Olivet Nazarene University, a private Christian school next door.
Students are the highest priority at Bradley West Elementary School.
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School offers plenty of AP and Honors courses.
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Travelers take the interstate, buses and planes out of two airports
Interstate 57 is the main thoroughfare in and out of the village. Commuters take I-57 to Chicago, 60 miles north, and O’Hare International Airport, about 10 miles farther. River Valley Metro buses serve the area and provide rides to O’Hare for a small fee. Fliers can go through Chicago Midway International Airport, 60 miles away, to avoid Chicago traffic. Amtrak trains run through Kankakee’s station, and Riverside Medical Center is 3 miles away, across the river.
Written By
Grace Pitney
Photography Contributed By
JJ Starr
Video By
Victoria York
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Bradley, IL sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Bradley, IL over the last 12 months is $197,000, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Property Id: 1864570Spacious 3 bed, 1.5 bath home available to rent. New carpet in bedrooms and family room. Hardwood floors in living room. Updated kitchen and main bathroom. Freshly painted throughout. Detached 2 car garage. Nice sized yard.
Property Id: 1457662This cute 2 bed and 1 bath townhouse is ready for you to move in today. Real hardwood floors in most of the rooms. Vinyl flooring in the kitchen. Modern finishes in the bathroom and kitchen. Call today to schedule a viewing!Listed by Lisa Rosenboom - Realtor with Coldwell Banker
Great 3B/2B Rental Available in Central Bradley. Home sits on a corner lot and is close to restaurants, stores, and I57 Access. This home has been freshly painted. Home features large eat in kitchen, living room, bedroom, and 1 bathroom on the main level. Second level features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Washer and Dryer hook up is in basement. Basement is unfinished, great for storage. Detached
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