Hugging the shores of the Des Plaines River, 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, is the small, unincorporated community of Fairmont. Since the early 1900s, the neighborhood‘s population has slowly grown along with that of Joliet, located a few miles south.
Houses here are affordable compared to the surrounding communities of Lockport and Joliet, while still being within a 10-minute drive of downtown amenities and restaurants. Modest single-family homes make up the market here, with prices ranging from $75,000 one-bedroom fixer-uppers in need of major renovations to $280,000 four-bedroom abodes with 2,000 square feet, recently renovated interiors and modern appliances. Brick American foursquares, cozy bungalows, ranch-style homes and Cape Cods make up the architectural scene, and houses sit on quarter-acre lots.
From prekindergarten through the eighth grade, local learners can attend Fairmont School. Located in the heart of the neighborhood, the school earns a C-minus overall grade from Niche, serves 350 students and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11-1. Older students can head north to Lockport Township High School, which earns an impressive A overall Niche score. High schoolers have an abundance of extracurricular offerings to choose from, with over 50 clubs centered around topics like auto mechanics, horticulture, winter sports and technology. Students will also take college and career applications courses, with options including business innovation, international cuisine and aviation mechanics.
Residents will also find a small selection of locally owned eateries within walking distance of their doorstep. Norma’s Café is a neighborhood favorite for brunch and can satisfy both sweet and savory cravings, with menu options like fluffy blueberry pancakes, French toast, eggs ranchero and biscuits and gravy. A short drive south is Bella’s Place, where patrons can order tamales, volvanes or a burger before enjoying a sweet treat from the bakery case. When the fridge is looking sparse, drive 4 miles north to cross off some items on the grocery list at Berkot’s Super Foods, Jewel-Osco or Aldi.
Local parents can take the kids to the playgrounds at the Fairmont Community Center or A. F. Hill Park, which is also home to a baseball diamond, a basketball court and multiuse sports fields. The community center is also home to a community-run food pantry, which serves residents every Thursday morning. Bordering Fairmont to the north, Dellwood Park has been a popular spot to enjoy the fresh air since it opened in 1905. Dellwood is home to facilities for volleyball, baseball, soccer and tennis, along with a popular 18-hole disc golf course and a skate park. Residents may go for a walk through the park along the two-mile loop trail that winds through woods, over creeks and past open fields.
Fairmont’s residential streets are bordered in the west by Lockport Road, which allows for easy access to the neighboring towns, whether driving a car or hopping on the bus from one of numerous stations throughout the community. Commuters and travelers alike can head to downtown Lockport to the Metra station to take the one-hour train ride to downtown Chicago.
Hillary Lafferty
Charles Rutenberg Realty of IL
(630) 656-9154
159 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$190,000 Price
Stanislawa Talaga
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(708) 859-7827
69 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$389,000 Price
Rory Hertzberg
Village Realty, Inc
(815) 368-4178
675 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$144,095 Price
Helen Oliveri
Helen Oliveri Real Estate
(224) 601-6120
380 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$220,000 Price
Joanna Lewkowicz
Boutique Home Realty
(224) 400-6173
212 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$188,000 Price
Crystal Lagunas
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group
(855) 671-2793
14 Total Sales
1 in Fairmont
$23,750 Price
On average, homes in Fairmont, Lockport sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Fairmont, Lockport over the last 12 months is $225,000, down 37% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Idyllic suburban neighborhood with traditional homes and picturesque parks
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Park-populous suburb with golf courses, century-old homes and Metra access
Residential community just around 40 miles from Chicago with easy access to I-55
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Suburban living wrapped in lush landscapes, rich history and modern conveniences
