At first glance, Garfield Park's residential landscape might look uniform, but the community shows much more diversity. University students, homeowners and investors all take an interest in the area's smaller Arts and Crafts homes. Residents are directly north of Millikin University and at the intersection of two major thoroughfares. Outdoor recreation is also within reach, with a neighborhood park and sprawling nature area beside two of the neighborhood's borders.
Garfield Park blends historic charm with university life and easy access to amenities.
Charming bungalows with white picket fences line the peaceful streets of Garfield Park.
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Uniform architecture, diverse community
In Garfield Park, bungalows and Craftsman-style homes sit along wide streets shaded by mature trees. Listings typically sell between $40,000 and $60,000, although some homes sell in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. While most homes are owner-occupied, investors are equally interested in listings, says real estate agent Michael Sexton with Brinkoetter Realtors. Many people renovate homes and rent them to university students looking to live off-campus their senior year, creating a blended community of neighbors. "The neighborhoods around Millikin University are some of the oldest in the city, and they're so diverse," Sexton says. "You could split these neighborhoods open and find all of America there."
Garfield Park’s mix of mid-century and Arts and Crafts homes appeals to all.
Traditional-style homes in Garfield Park offer timeless charm and cozy living spaces.
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A park after Garfield’s own heart (and name)
Garfield Park shares its name with the green space in the northern part of the neighborhood. In February 2024, the city approved funding to revitalize the park. Clay Gerhard, executive director at Decatur Parks District, says improvements will include an updated playground, an interactive ball wall, more basketball courts and an additional pavilion. "Basketball is huge in that neighborhood, so it was very clear we needed to add more courts," he says. "The community has also expressed a need for a new pavilion, so our focus shifted there as well." A new pavilion will help support the park as a public event space since it hosts community celebrations, such as the annual Father's Day picnic. The neighborhood is also diagonally adjacent to Fairview Park, which has similar amenities, like a playground and sports courts, but also offers an off-leash dog park, duck pond, and skate park. People can rent bikes to ride along the Stevens Creek Bikeway or pack a picnic to enjoy at the Fairview Park Rose Garden.
Garfield Park brings joy to young friends as they play together on the playground.
Families enjoy bonding over a friendly basketball game at Garfield Park.
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Millikin University to the south
Garfield Park sits directly north of Millikin University, a private, four-year institution with a B rating on Niche. "It's a liberal arts college with about 2,000 students," Sexton says. "The theater, dance and music program is huge, but people also go there to study business and medicine. They also have a popular master's program." Most children in the neighborhood attend Franklin Grove Elementary School and Stephen Decatur Middle School. However, some students are zoned for Dennis Lab School, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school that regularly collaborates with Millikin University. All three schools have a C-minus rating on Niche. Older students attend the C-rated MacArthur High School, which sits west of East Route 48 in the adjacent Fairlawn neighborhood. Through dual enrollment courses, MacArthur students can simultaneously complete their diploma and an associate's degree.
Garfield Park offers a vibrant mix of historic homes, green spaces, and community life.
Garfield Park honors history with war memorials and statues nestled in green spaces.
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Intersecting thoroughfares get just about anywhere
Garfield Park sits at the intersection of two major roads: Highway 36 and East Route 48. Highway 36 is a primary avenue to Interstate 72, Downtown Decatur and the Decatur Airport, under 7 miles east. East Route 48 connects people to South Decatur and leads to Forsythe, 6 miles north, where a major shopping mall lies. While most people drive to get around, the neighborhood has plenty of bus stops and sidewalks along most streets. An industrial train track passes beside the neighborhood, so residents occasionally hear rumbling as trains roll toward the Decatur train yard.
Residents of Garfield Park enjoy peaceful mornings outdoors with a cup of coffee.
Fairview Park has a little something for everyone.
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Hearty gyros and cheesesteaks at Frank’s
Locals can easily buy groceries with a Save A Lot in Garfield Park's northwestern corner. At the south of the neighborhood is a CVS and several chain restaurants lining Highway 36. To the east, Biggens Bar and Billiards offers a relaxed space for bar grub and a round of pool, while Frank's Chicago Grill serves up gyros and Philly cheesesteaks portioned with a heavy hand. On the west side of East Route 48 is Fairview Shopping Center, featuring more eateries, two dollar stores and Citi Trends, a discount clothing store. Within 1-1/2 miles is Downtown Decatur, which has more diverse dining and boutique store options.
Frank's Chicago Grill serves up Philly cheesesteaks, a local favorite in Garfield Park.
Residents of Garfield Park savor delicious bites from food trucks during community events.
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Written By
Isabel Butler
Photography Contributed By
Michael Forbes
Video By
Colleen Carey
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Agents Specializing in this Area
Randy Grigg
Vieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Parks in this Area
Fairview Park
Central Park
Kiwanis Park
Decatur Park District
Preston Jackson Park
Garfield Park
Rock Springs Conservation Area
Sunnyside Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Garfield Park
US
Homicide
9
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Garfield Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Garfield Park, Decatur sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Garfield Park, Decatur over the last 12 months is $48,000, up 20% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$55,000
Median Sale Price
$48,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$48,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
9%
Last 12 months Home Sales
31
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
20%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$46
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
363
Median Year Built
1920
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,827
Below the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,115
Median Age
31
Population under 18
32.2%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.6%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$19,290
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$34,776
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
82.6%
College Graduates
13.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.2%
% Population in Labor Force
46.3%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
3''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
49/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
75/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
