Carol Stream

The Village of Carol Stream, about 30 miles west of downtown Chicago, was incorporated in 1959 and today has about 40,000 residents. "It's kind of heavily densely populated," says Rudy Johnson, a Realtor with Keller Williams Inspire Realty. The section of South Carol Stream makes up about a third of the village. "DuPage County is a great environment. You're five minutes from great restaurants, shopping and forest preserves," says Johnson, who has close to 20 years of experience specializing in commercial, residential and investment real estate in DuPage, Kane and Cook counties. In addition to its outdoor and retail amenities, an industrial sector and over 1,000 businesses bring employment opportunities and versatility to this suburban community. South Carol Stream borders the city of Wheaton. South of Doris Avenue, around Week Park East and Gerald R. Weeks Memorial Park is where buyers might pick out one of the older standalone homes. "A lot of people come in and grab these 1950s, '80s homes and modernize them," Johnson says. Builds from the 1990s to 2000s are typically larger: 2,100 to 4,500 square feet. Single-family houses include Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods, bi-levels, ranch-style and traditionals. "There's not a lot of brand-new construction. That's why the townhouses, which were built in the past ten years, are popular," Johnson says. In the northeastern portion of South Carol Stream, along East North Avenue and Bloomingdale Road, are mainly 1990s townhouses with attached garages. According to Johnson, some subdivision homes were initially geared toward executive-level buyers. "They are 2,500-square-foot, three stories tall, brick and really sharp." He says renting is allowed. "From the investor side, you are getting cash flowing, and from the tenant side, you're getting a really nicely maintained complex that has indoor recreation with an Olympic-sized pool. There are a couple of restaurants at the end of the street. South Carol Stream's condos include those in low-rise 1970s to '80s buildings. The Timber Ridge complex has a pool, clubhouse, tennis courts and paved walking paths to the nearby forest preserve. Monthly homeowners association fees are $300 to $380. A one-bedroom condo of less than 900 square feet can go for $130,000, townhouses start at $210,000, and single-family houses are typically $250,000 to $525,000. Apartments are available as well. Students may attend public schools in different districts depending on their address and grade level. Included are Wheaton's District 200, which has an A-plus from Niche; Glen Ellyn's District 41, A-minus; and Bloomingdale's District 93, B-plus. Earning an A-minus are Carol Stream Elementary, Benjamin Middle and Hadley Junior High. Glenbard Township High School District 87 includes A-rated schools Glenbard North, South and East. Glenbard West has an A-plus, as does Wheaton North High School. South Carol Stream has grocers such as Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets and ALDI. Eateries off Schmale Road include the Village Tavern & Grill of Carol Stream. "They have the best chicken fingers around," Johnson says. "They are nice and big and fluffy, and the honey mustard is great." Nearby in a small shopping center, there's a diversity of flavors, with Saigon Oriental Market, La Mexicana Bakery and Chinor, an Uzbeki restaurant. "There's a couple of cool places right on the border with Wheaton," Johnson says, recommending Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant on East Geneva Road. "You don't get a lot of Burmese restaurants. My family likes to go there. It's hidden back there, a little hole in the wall." The village has over 30 parks and facilities, so there's always somewhere to go close to home. "The park district is strong, and there's a variety of things to do: exercise, outdoor activities, anything fun-related," Johnson says. He says one pick is an entry-level frisbee golf course. "It's been a growing recreation sport here for a while, though not as popular as pickleball. You can get your kids out there, families, people who just want to hang out." The bark park is another great location, according to Johnson. "We know a lot of people who have moved in who don't have kids, but they have fur babies. It's a way to meet other residents and get to know your neighbors." With Klein Creek running through its center, Red Hawk Park contains a playground and multipurpose fields. Visitors to Weeks Parks East and West enjoy the soccer area, playground, fishing with a license and sledding in the winter. The 63-acre Community Park, known for its walking trails, a fishing pier, and facilities for volleyball, tennis and basketball, was undergoing renovations expected to be complete by Memorial Day of 2024. Upgrades include pavilions and garden plots. Nearby forest preserves include Timber Ridge and West Branch Forest Preserve. Hiking and biking are popular pastimes along the DuPage River Trail, and Deep Quarry Lake is a spot for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Johnson also mentions the Great Western Trail and the Prairie Path Trail. "Most people bike them, but some walk," he says. Since it's so close, many locals enjoy sites in Wheaton, like the Cosley Zoo. "It's just on the border of South Carol Stream," Johnson says. "You can walk the whole thing in less than an hour; it's great for toddlers and younger kids." Sustain DuPage Garden brings community members together to share garden space while learning about sustainable practices. The organization plans community cooking sessions, keeps a seed cache and hosts workshops and an annual seed swap. The Carol Stream Ice Rink offers lessons and hockey leagues. The DuPage Training Academy is a sports complex with indoor practice facilities, classes, leagues and camps. On Thursday evenings in the summer, the live music of the Summer Celebrations Concert Series entertains residents at the Ross Ferrero Town Center, a popular location for community events. There's a Fall Festival with a car show, pumpkin painting and live music. Gamers, comic book fans and foodies come together at the Geek Fest/Taste of Carol Stream. It's not far to the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds, where the county fair and lots of special events take place. Residents are sure to join Carol Stream Public Library, a community hub. Older residents might attend the Aging-in-Community workshops presented by the Social Services Unit at the library and the village hall. "There's not really a downtown area in Carol Stream, it's drive-everywhere-you-go," Johnson says. Major roadways include state Route 64 and Interstate 355. It's only about 20 miles to O'Hare International Airport and 30 miles to Midway International Airport. Wheaton Metra Station is only a few miles away, and Winfield Metra Station is also nearby. Both are served by the Union Pacific West line, which runs from Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center to Elburn. Residents can choose to ride Pace Suburban buses that run on a route from Wheaton Metra Station to Addison. In South Carol Stream, riders can hop on the bus from stops along Schmale and East St. Charles roads and Gundersen Drive. Some convenient stops are the post office, the industrial park and the Village Hall.