Downtown Lake Villa
$291,773
Average Value
Afternoons at Lehmann Park or on the lakes
Cedar Lake and Deep Lake teem with largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. Parking is free with a village sticker at Lehmann Park, a Cedar Lake access point on the north end of Cedar Avenue. “They consider Lehmann Park the ‘jewel of downtown,’” says Robert Frank, a local real estate broker who owns his own firm and raised his family in Lake Villa. “I have an inflatable kayak, and I’ll put it right in on the pier and spend the day on the water with my wife and daughters.” The park’s namesake, Edward J. Lehmann, pioneered one of the earliest department stores and put Lake Villa on the map by bringing the Wisconsin Central Railroad to the town. His legacy lives on through his Federalist estate the village has converted into a public venue. “The Lehmann Mansion was built way back in 1912,” Frank says. “I was the caretaker for 19 years, and let me tell you, I don’t miss mowing that 5-acre lawn. When the kids were little, they had free reign running in the grass.” Other village resources include the Lake Villa Township Baseball Complex and Hickory Knoll Golf Course, a public nine-hole run about 3 miles southwest of downtown. Prairie and wetland wildlife refuges back up to nearby subdivisions and provide walking and biking opportunities. “We’re so blessed to have a lot of open trails,” Frank says. “My dog and I get out there and have fun meeting different people.”Local watering holes on Cedar Avenue and beyond
Alongside Village Hall is a therapy office, an air conditioning repair shop, and a handful of well-loved restaurants in repurposed buildings. “I don’t think anything brand new has been built since the train station, though they may have updated a door here and there,” Johnson says. “The little salon inside is what used to be the old library for the township, and the township supervisor’s office is in the old bank.” What was once a car dealership is now Harbor Brewing Company. Cedar Avenue’s newest addition serves craft beers at outdoor seating across the street from Lehmann Park. “People like it because it has a small town, casual feel—you can bring your dog to that front area,” Johnson says. “Timothy O’Toole’s also attracts a lot of people. It’s a family restaurant where you can get some wings, watch football and all that stuff. Lake Villa Restaurant has been there since I was five. It’s the original greasy spoon.”Some get groceries at the Butera Market, 2 miles east of downtown near the Lake Villa District Library, while others head to other town centers. “It’s just a few minutes north into Antioch, east into Gurney and Gurney Mills, or south to Round Lake Beach,” Johnson says. Other waterfront or inland restaurants have been in Lake Villa for decades, like Reflections on Deep Lake, a lodge-style restaurant opened by a Polish couple in 1999. The restaurant is popular for sipping cocktails on the patio when it’s warm or by the fireplace inside when it’s cold. On some nights, owner Jack Krupka will play the accordion for his customers, Frank says.
Cottages and Colonials near downtown Lake Villa
Save for several Colonial Revivals and Folk-style homes on Cedar, most cottages and midcentury homes are on branching streets with trucks, trailers or boats parked out front. Garages double as workshops, and it’s common to see small gardens or piles of firewood in the yard. Many homes have stayed in the same families for years, and options rarely hit the market. Four sold in 2024, from a brick ranch-style under 1,000 square feet for $205,000 to a Cape Cod with four bedrooms and two bathrooms for $330,000. The median price in downtown Lake Villa is about $240,000, below the wider village median of $370,000.Hopping aboard North Central Service trains
Murals of Lake Villa staples and historic photos decorate Lake Villa Station’s heated waiting room. Metra’s North Central Service line operates on weekdays during work hours, transferring at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at the 50-minute mark before continuing to Chicago Union Station. “But if you don't like that schedule, you can go to the stations in Fox Lake, Round Lake or Libertyville, all within a ten-minute drive,” Frank says. Interstate 94 toll roads are the main driving route 52 miles to downtown Chicago. Grand Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue, two main drags to other parts of Lake County, also intersect downtown. A new Advocate Outpatient Center opened south of downtown Lake Villa in 2022, and the closest emergency room is Vista Medical Center – Lindenhurst, 1.5 miles east on Grand Avenue.Lake Villa Community Consolidated School District No. 41
Buses take downtown students to area schools. Olive C. Martin Elementary School scores a B-plus from Niche and teaches kindergarten through sixth grade. Palombi Middle School also scores a B-plus and updated its cafeteria, kitchen and locker rooms in 2022. Lakes Community High School receives an A rating and offers both Advanced Placement courses and dual credit opportunities through a partnership with The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.Parading down Cedar Avenue to Lehmann Park
The Lake Villa Historical Society and village volunteers host events at Lehmann Mansion throughout the year. “Timothy O’Tooles was one of our sponsors for Breakfast with Santa,” says Frank, a longtime member. “It was well-received with over 500 sales. We served a lot of kids pancakes that day. We also do a car show on the front lawn of the mansion, and there’s a great concert series. Our office sponsored two concerts last year, we set up a table and handed out water.” Other events take place right on Cedar Avenue. “The day after Thanksgiving we have a parade that goes right downtown,” Johnson says. “It’s beautiful with all the lights, the fire trucks, and the tree lighting is at the end of the street in Lehmann Park. Lake Villa has just about 10,000 people, but those people will all come to that little street and bring the family. It makes you want to support it.”
Written By
Emma Downes
Video By
Lucas Dyke
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Rafay Qamar
Rafay Qamar
Real Broker LLC
(833) 359-9113
1,067 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lake Villa
$236,000 Price
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Sharon Tuckman
Sharon Tuckman
Responds QuicklyWilliam Harris Group Chicago
(833) 785-5783
70 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lake Villa
$185,000 Price
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Robert Frank
Robert Frank
Responds QuicklyRobert E. Frank Real Estate
(224) 269-7708
91 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Lake Villa
$218K - $316K Price Range
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Bryan Shaughnessy
BS
Bryan Shaughnessy
Responds QuicklyRealty World Tiffany R.E.
(224) 487-8096
89 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lake Villa
$236,000 Price
-
Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson
Responds QuicklyBaird & Warner
(224) 207-4043
199 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lake Villa
$170,000 Price
-
Terrence Muse
Terrence Muse
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Premier
(224) 507-7631
245 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lake Villa
$170,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Sun Lake Forest Preserve
Lehmann Park
- Boating
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Loffredo Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Disc Golf
- Football
Lake Villa Township Park
Transit
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
53 min drive
Train
Lake Villa Station
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Lake Villa | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
106
Median Year Built
1949
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
720
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Rent
-
$1,002 - $1,452 per month
- Lakewood Tower
- 1-2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 610+ Sq Ft
- 320 N Milwaukee Ave
- Lake Villa, IL
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
687
Median Age
42
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$76,471
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$101,543
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.5%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
41.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.8%
% Population in Labor Force
72.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
34''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
23''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
28
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
25
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Venetian Village
Peaceful neighborhood within the Chain O Lakes near two forest preserves
South Lake Villa
A community with a small-town locale and suburban amenities close by
Lake Villa
Small town living between two lakes in Chicago's Chain O'Lakes
Monaville
A blend of old and new subdivisions offering a rural feel
Round Lake Beach
A waterfront suburb with a community-centered spirit
Lindenhurst
Lake County living amidst forest preserves and fishing lakes
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