$42,458Average Value$283Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Employment and opportunities close to home
Hess Park is a heavily industrialized neighborhood in northern Decatur near many major employers. Homebuyers can save money with shorter commute times and homes priced below the city's average home value. Restaurants and stores sit around the community's borders, putting locals within 2 miles of almost all they need. The neighborhood also has an expansive park that serves as the meeting ground for little league sports teams and city-wide events.
Hess Park has homes available that are reasonably priced and affordable.
Decatur is known for its manufacturing, and Hess Park contains some of the largest warehouses.
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Hess Park and the Redbird Rookies
Hess Park shares its name with its primary green space, a nearly 24-acre park. With its six baseball diamonds, the park is home to the Redbird Rookies, a free baseball league for children aged 5 through 13. The season begins each June, and games are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Outside of league days, Realtor Matt Roush of Glenda Williamson Realty says the park is a continual hotspot for sports, from basketball to soccer. "Whether it's the on or off-season, if you pass by Hess Park on a Saturday, it's just packed with people," he says. The park also hosts National Night Out, an annual campaign and block party promoting strong police-community partnerships. For indoor recreation, locals are less than 1 mile from the Decatur Family YMCA, which offers aquatic and fitness facilities.
Hess Park has a wide array of sporting options.
Hess Park's Hess park is a popular location for little league games.
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Pockets of petit homes at low price points
Most of Hess Park is industrial, so homes sit in small residential pockets throughout the neighborhood. A sizable mobile home park is also at the center of the community. Prices range between $30,000 and $70,000 for bungalows, Craftsman-style homes and the occasional two-story property. Homes don't often go onto the market, but when they do, they aren't up long. "There's low inventory across the city, so if my clients see a house in their price point up for sale, they jump on it," Roush says. Lots in the north and west are slightly more spacious, while southern lots situate homes closer together and create shorter front lawns. Residents park in driveways that wrap around to the back of homes, where a shed or carport is occasionally found.
If not craftsman, then you may find humble bungalows throughout Hess Park.
There are a few two story houses that occupy the Hess Park bloks.
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Public and private options for Hess Park students
Depending on where students live in the neighborhood, they are zoned for either Hope Academy or Parsons Elementary School and Stephen Decatur Middle School for kindergarten through eighth grade. All three schools have a C-minus rating from Niche. After eighth grade, all students attend Eisenhower High School, which has a C-plus rating and an agricultural education academy. Roush says that for private schooling, many people gravitate toward Lutheran School Association of Decatur, a kindergarten through 12th grade institution with a B-minus Niche grade. In addition to a faith-centered curriculum, the school offers students mentorship, internship and dual enrollment opportunities in partnership with local businesses and colleges.
Hope Academy creates an inspiring atmosphere for learning.
Stephen Decatur Middle School offers courses in Reading and Math.
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Savory eats along the neighborhood's borders
All sorts of restaurants and stores are near the neighborhood's borders. The aroma of pulled pork and brisket wafts out Carrol Lou's Smokehouse doors, while Rasoi Indian Restaurant's menu adds a little spice to the air. Fast food restaurants sit beside classic American diners like Garden Family Restaurant and Gabby's. Around the neighborhood's northwestern corner are stores like Kroger, Aldi, Dollar General and Autozone. In the northeastern corner, Big Lots and Ashley Outlet serve household needs, and Spare Time Lanes next door is a popular spot for parties and hobby groups.
Garden Family Restaurant serves Hess Park residents delicious classic American dishes.
Carrol Lou’s Smokehouse offers Hess Park residents amazing bbq food, wings and more.
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Nearby employers and industrial businesses to the east
Over half of the neighborhood is made up of industrial buildings and government-affiliated institutions. These include the City of Decatur corporate office, Mueller Water Products Foundry, Decatur Concrete Recycling and ADM Mechanical Department. The neighborhood is also within two miles of Caterpillar and ADM's central warehouses, which are two major employers in Decatur. "People are only 5 minutes from Caterpillar and maybe 8 from ADM," Roush says. "It makes for a really quick commute to and from work."
Hess Park residents can also work by at the nearby Caterpillar Inc. factory.
Houses in Hess Park are within walking distance of major warehouses and distributing companies.
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East Pershing Road, the primary commuter path
Illinois State Route 48, also known as East Pershing Road, is the neighborhood's main avenue. It leads to major employers and connects to Route 121, another major roadway. "Other than Highway 51, Pershing is probably the next most highly traveled road in the city," Roush says. "But you really don't ever hit traffic on it. When the Caterpillar folks leave at the end of the day, you might stop for a second, but it starts right back up again." Public bus stops are also available along three of the neighborhood's borders and North Jasper Street. For air travel, the Decatur Airport is 7 miles away.
Crime
Hess Park has an overall CAP Index score of 7 versus the national average of 4. It has higher-than-average scores for violent crime. The City of Decatur police department has a crime prevention unit that works with neighborhoods to reduce crime through neighborhood watch programs and anonymous reporting. The city also received a grant in 2023 to help deploy more police officers in areas with higher numbers of violent crimes.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Blake McWilliams,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Hess Park
Hess Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Hess Park, Decatur sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Hess Park, Decatur over the last 12 months is $425,000.
Affordable Investment Opportunity – Ready for Renovation!Located at 1159 E Mueller Ave in Decatur, IL, this 2-bedroom, 1-bath property is a great project for flippers or buy-and-hold investors. With a functional layout and a full basement, there’s plenty of room to add value and increase equity. Ideal for a fix-and-flip or to add to a rental portfolio, this home sits on a residential street
Such a great little Bungalow! This house has been the perfect rental property for many years, but could be a great First-time buyer Home! Current tenant has been in place over 10 years and would love to stay on, however current lease will expire as of 7/31/25. Lots of room for storage in the basement and a spacious, partially fenced yard.HV/AC-aprox 5 yrs old, WH-2021, roof aprox 10 yrs old.
Carol DanielsVieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Blake McWilliams,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
896
Median Age
38
Population under 18
24.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$17,812
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$31,190
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.1%
College Graduates
4.7%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.5%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
58.2%
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®
36/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
18/ 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.
