$181,213Average Value$117Average Price per Sq Ft28Homes For Sale
"Petunia Capital of Illinois" in a small town
Hallmarks of Dixon include its Rock River waterfront and bountiful pink blossoms, but visitors know they’ve arrived when they pass under the arch emblazoned with the city’s name. KSB hospital has been entirely based out of Dixon since it was founded in 1857, and employs many residents at its downtown campus. Manufacturing centers throughout the city support other residents. “We are community-minded and very family-oriented,” says Amber Schmidt, service and outreach director at Discover Dixon. “We have a lot of events and activities that are going on all the time, year-round. It’s a very lively small town.”
Dixon is nicknamed the "petunia capital of the world" due to the annual Petunia Festival.
Historic Dixon, IL was founded in 1830 and has a current population of 15,274.
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Tourism blossoms on Independence Day
After Dutch Elm Disease destroyed much of Dixon’s foliage in the 1950s, a community effort to plant petunias birthed the city’s biggest event. The Petunia Festival celebrated its 60th anniversary over the Fourth of July weekend in 2024. "It probably draws around 20,000 to 30,000 visitors to the city every year,” Schmidt says. “It’s right downtown on our beautiful riverfront that’s roped off to traffic for a few days, bands play down there and we have a carnival, food vendors, and a dog parade.” Museums and historical structures pose more attraction to Dixon, from the Northwest Territory Historic Center to Ronald Reagan’s childhood home. “We also have a couple different holiday events that are outside, people can get a horse-drawn carriage ride with hot chocolate or take a photo with Santa at an old settler cabin we have here," Schmidt says.
Homes north and south of the Rock River
The median home price in Dixon is less than half the national median at $160,000, and homes spend less than the national average time on the market. Much of the housing stands from the early 1900s, with bungalows, Dutch Colonial and Folk-style homes lining the grid near downtown in North Dixon and Interstate 88 in South Dixon . Ranch-style homes are also common, while plots of land are ripe for new developments on the city’s outskirts, such as in Prairieville-Palmyra or Daysville-Carthage .
Ranch homes in Dixon with attached garages average about $160,000.
Many updated ranch-style homes can be seen throughout Dixon.
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From downtown to Dixon Gateway
Passing under the arch leads to Dixon’s quaint shopping stretch. “There’s easy parking downtown and a lot of cute little boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, so you can park in one area and just walk shop and eat,” Schmidt says. Current development centers around the nearby Interstate 88 exit, where two new hotels, chain restaurants and retailers operate. Dixon Gateway joins the existing Walmart and Aldi, while County Market is on the north end of the city.
Residents of Dixon can grab their weekly groceries at the local ALDI.
Pati O's Irish Pub in downtown Dixon has over 20 beers on tap.
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Recreation along the Rock River and throughout Dixon
Dixon gets humid summers, cold winters and autumn and springtime colors in between. The local park district hosts youth and adult leagues indoors at their sports complex, The Facility. Summertime means trips to the neighborhood playground and waterfront activity. “We have docks that are put in the river in the summertime so people can pull right on the water and float up to the little bars and restaurants along the way,” Schmidt says. “Lowell Park just purchased kayak launches that are handicap accessible on the lake.” A drive on rural roads leads to White Pines Forest State Park and other areas that make the Sauk Valley region a popular outdoor recreation getaway for larger urban centers.
Lowell Park in Dixon is the perfect place for an afternoon hike.
Your kids will love the playground at Page Park located in the heart of Dixon.
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Getting around the Petunia Capital of Illinois and the wider region
Though most Dixon homeowners own vehicles, bicycling is both a favored pastime and will soon be a viable means of transportation. "All-new bike paths are eventually gonna connect Dixon to surrounding communities and eventually go all the way up to Wisconsin,” Schmidt says. She adds that Dixon’s distance from the traffic of Chicagoland suburbia goes hand-in-hand with its central location. “It's really not far from downtown Chicago with I-88 there, I can take my daughter and have a fun weekend in only an hour and 45 minutes,” she says. The closest airports with international flights are in the Quad Cities or Rockford, though Chicago’s two airports are also popular choices.
Tight-knit Dixon School District
Dixon Unified School District No. 170 serves students throughout the city and scores a B-minus from Niche. Students attend three elementary schools for two years each before graduating to Reagen Middle School and Dixon High School. The in-person campus for Sauk Valley Community College rests halfway between Dixon and Sterling.
Dixon High School offers plenty of AP and Honors courses.
Sauk Valley Community College rests halfway between Dixon and nearby Sterling.
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Tracking crime in Dixon
The Dixon Police Department releases monthly arrest reports for those taken into custody in the city. FBI statistics show that both violent and property crime rates are on a downward trend in the city.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
JJ Starr
Video By
Drew Webster
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Linda Swenson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Dixon, IL sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Dixon, IL over the last 12 months is $155,000, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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