Homer Glen

The Village of Homer Glen's motto is “Community and Nature in Harmony,” and living in South Homer Glen, residents can find plenty of both. “The village boasts an equal balance of rural and residential areas, providing locals with spacious private lots with lots of lush greenery,” says local real estate agent Kimberly Brehm with Crosstown Realtors. Those driving through this suburban neighborhood can find a mix of housing developments and sprawling farmland surrounding the Messenger Woods Nature Preserve, which sits at the heart of South Homer Glen. A number of small parks with playgrounds and ponds can be found in most of the area's many residential subdivisions, which include both multi-family and single-family homes. Students in this neighborhood are served by the Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche. Much of the housing in this neighborhood consists of newer custom-built homes, as well as lots of split-level, ranch-style and traditional homes built in residential subdivisions. Along several main roads, including Parker Road, Doede Lane and Bruce Road, locals can find single-family homes situated on large, private wooded lots. In the Victoria Crossing subdivision, prospective homeowners can find a two-bedroom townhouse that spans just over 700 square feet and costs approximately $285,000. Three-bedroom ranch-style residences might cost nearly $500,000, while a modern traditional home that features front-facing gables and was built in 2023 can list just below $600,000. “Besides the homes, the outstanding school system is another big draw to the area,” Brehm says. Learners in grades one through four can attend Goodings Grove School, which has a B on Niche and offers diverse clubs and activities, like Culinary Chemistry and Improv Club. For grades five and six, students attend Hadley Middle School, which feeds into Homer Junior High School that serves grades seven and eight. Both schools earn a score of B-plus on Niche. Hadley Middle emphasizes STEM topics in its curriculum, while Homer Junior High involves its students in the arts and focuses on building students' social and emotional learning skills. For secondary school, students might go to the Lockport Township High School East Campus, which has an A rating and is named No. 5 on Niche’s “Best Public High Schools in Will County” list. At the center of the South Homer Glen is the Messenger Woods Nature Preserve, which spans more than 400 acres and serves as a popular spot to hike, birdwatch and camp. The adjacent Messenger Marsh covers 620 acres and features a diverse array of wildlife habitats, as well as a dog park and picnic pavilion. Many of the residential subdivisions in this area offer homeowners convenient access to small parks, which often feature playgrounds, small ponds and large open green spaces. Sports enthusiasts can head to Stonebridge Park to find a number of basketball and tennis courts, as well as a sand volleyball court and paved walking path. Residents in this area don’t have to travel far for groceries: there’s a Jewel-Osco and Aldi to the east in Orland Park and a Jewel-Osco, Meijer and Aldi in the northern part of Homer Glen. For restaurant options, locals can head to The Phoenix Kitchen and Cocktails, a casual dining experience serving locally sourced New American Cuisine, which includes menu options like prime rib and crème brûlée. At Rubi Agave Latin Kitchen, Tequila & Whiskey Bar, which is situated right across the street from The Phoenix, diners can enjoy a lively environment and fusion Latin bistro that features a small music venue. Will County’s Illinois State Route 7 is a major thoroughfare that runs east to west along the neighborhood’s northern border. To the west, commuters have convenient access to Interstate 355, which runs north through the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. Downtown Joliet is an approximately 12-mile drive away and is also home to the Joliet Regional Airport. Residents of South Homer Glen can also access the Lockport Train Station 8 miles away, which runs the Metra Rail HC line. Each summer, the Village of Homer Glen Municipal Government hosts HomerFest, an annual community celebration that features live entertainment, carnival rides and a wide selection of food vendors. Movies Under the Stars also takes place in the warmer months and offers free outdoor movies in addition to on-site snack and beverage vendors. During the holiday season, the Village puts together its “Homer for the Holidays” event, a dazzling festive lights display that takes place in Heritage Park.