Just three miles from Lake Michigan’s western shore is the small Lake Bluff community of Knollwood. Home to fewer than 2,000 residents, this neighborhood is quiet and tucked away, with many homes sitting on lots shaded by mature trees and adorned with foliage and flower gardens. Rockland and Waukegan roads can take residents to shopping centers in five minutes while thousands of acres of nature preserves are a short drive west of the neighborhood.
Knollwood is a lovely neighborhood lined with mature trees.
Knollwood is an unincorporated community with a population of about 2,000 people.
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Private lots and above-average price tags
Privacy is one of Knollwood’s key perks, with lush greenery and half-acre lots providing a divide between homes that isn’t as common in nearby communities like North Chicago. The average house here goes for $520,000, which is double the average Illinois listing price and around $100,000 over the national average. Offerings range from $120,000 1,000 square-foot fixer-uppers in need of major TLC to $750,000 recently renovated craftsman-style homes with five bedrooms and over 3,200 square feet. Additionally, most houses in the area were built between the 1950s and 1970s.
The average list price for a home in Knollwood is $454,616, and you’ll find a variety of homes.
There are many ranch style homes in Knollwood, IL.
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Top-notch public schools
Each public school serving the families of Knollwood earns an impressive overall Niche grade of A or higher. Lake Bluff Elementary School is a mile east of the neighborhood and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12-1. Lake Bluff Middle School has a wide selection of fine arts course offerings, including acting, improvisation, film arts and guitar. Lake Forest High School boasts an A-plus rating and is the 21st best public high school in Illinois, according to Niche.
Lake Bluff Middle School is located close to Knollwood.
Lake Bluff Elementary School is a public school located near Knollwood.
Lake Forest High School is beautifully situated near Lake Michigan close to Knollwood.
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Accessible greenery and golf courses
Parents take their little ones to the playgrounds at West School, Sanctuary and Knollwood parks, which also provide sports facilities to residents, including baseball diamonds, basketball courts and soccer fields. Knollwood Club is one of Illinois' premier private country clubs. Beyond the 18-hole golf course, practice facility, swimming pool, and grill, members enjoy a full calendar of dining, recreation and social events. Driving 3 miles east on Rockland Road takes residents to Lake Bluff Beach, where visitors can be found using the playground, picnicking, playing sand volleyball and, in the summer months, taking a refreshing dip in the country’s third-largest lake. Driving west of Knollwood can take nature seekers to Wilmot Woods, Independence Grove, and Old School forest preserves, where folks can be found hiking along dozens of miles of wooded trails.
Bring your clubs to the golf course at Lake Bluff Park near the Knollwood neighborhood.
Lake Bluff Golf Club near Knollwood is an 18 hole course with a practice driving range.
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Local bites and nearby shopping hubs
Knollwood residents don’t need to travel far to stock up on groceries and household essentials, with Heinen’s Grocery Store and Target both located less than a mile away. Locals can drive 7 miles northeast to downtown Waukegan or 4 miles southeast to Lake Forest for a large selection of shops and eateries. There are a handful of popular spots closer to home like Luke’s of Lake Bluff, where patrons indulge in menu items like skirt steak sandwiches, Italian sausages and char-broiled chicken sandwiches.
The Silo restaurant in Knollwood is a staple to the community.
The Chicago style pizza at The Silo in Knollwood is delicious.
Poke Bros in Knollwood serves fresh poke bowls perfect for a quick lunch.
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Below-average crime rates
The CAP index crime and safety score in Knollwood is 2 out of 10, making it significantly safer than the country’s average neighborhood, which earns a 4 out of 10.
Traveling to Chicago
Residents are a 35-mile drive from downtown Chicago, with Interstate 94 accessible by driving south on Highway 41. Folks are also a 10-minute drive from the Lake Forest Metra station where they can take the hour-long ride to the Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Interstate 94 is a great option to get to the city from Knollwood.
Residents of Knollwood can commute via the Metra train at Lake Bluff station.
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Written By
Jillian Pillow
Photography Contributed By
Chris Jeong
Video By
Celeste Thoms
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Christine Bluthardt,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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