Martin Shorewood
Martin Park to the north, Shorewood Park to the south
Shorewood Park has been home to the Ski Broncs—Rockford’s premier waterborne performance act— since 1967. Cheering fans fill the bleachers at the stage area to watch the team stand on each other’s shoulders and skirt the top of the river. “It’s a great option for families looking for something to do on a weeknight, they’re out there putting on a good show for the community,” says Jared Corey, lifelong Rockford resident. In 2024, the city allocated $800,000 towards stabilizing the shoreline, building a new-and-improved stage and reinforcing a flood wall to prevent erosion of the shore. Some homes here are at greater risk of damage during heavy rains and storm surges, according to risk data analysis firm First Street. Besides the Broncs, the 10-mile paved Rock River Recreation Path also traces through Shorewood and travels north to Martin Park, a favorite for swimming, fishing, boating and afternoons on the playground. The trail continues over the Riverside Bridge alongside car traffic and leads all the way north to Mercyhealth Sportscore One. With 18 soccer fields and 8 lighted softball/baseball diamonds, it’s a key spot for YMCA leagues and athletic associations.
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Cape Cods and bungalows inland from the Rock River
Established waterfront properties with boat docks line the Rock River; however, these tend to stay in Rockford families for generations and rarely hit the market, according to Sully Cadengo, Stateline Real Estate agent and longtime Rockford resident. Most homebuyers in Martin Shorewood scope out properties farther inland, though boat owners still have close access to the public launch at Martin Park. The area is mostly single-family homes, save for a few townhouse-style apartment communities like Bennett Street Townhomes and Shorewood Townhouse Apartments. Cape Cods, ranch-style homes, and bungalows with 3-season porches line the wide streets, most built in the early- to mid-1900s. The majority include two to three bedrooms and 1 to 1.5 bathrooms, with tiny one-bed, one-bath cottages at the lowest price point. Unlike the rehab-ready homes in downtown and southeast Rockford, many of these homes have already been renovated and may even have fully fenced backyards and sheds from previous owners. Their Loves Park location poses another benefit, too: no municipal property tax. Some blocks have long backyards extending back up to one-third of an acre. The blocks farthest north and south are more tight knit, with still enough room for an above-ground pool or garden. Narrow sidewalks thread the grid for walkers, and the neighborhood holds a CAP crime score of 3 out of 10, one point below the national average of 4. Prices throughout Martin Shorewood range from $70,000 to $190,000 depending on the number of remaining upgrades needed before move-in.
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Dinner on North 2nd Street, groceries in Loves Park
Martin Shorewood is just west of North 2nd Street, the main north-south road through Loves Park to Rockford. Chain restaurants like Beef-A-Roo and McDonald’s line this stretch, alongside family-owned businesses. Striking red walls, cream tablecloths and a scenic mural of the Italian countryside set the scene at Nunzio's Restaurant, which serves large plates of Italian classics with enough food to take home after. Hot summer nights mean a trip to Dairy Depot, where visitors are awarded after a long line with a towering chocolate or vanilla soft serve cone or a limited edition flavor, such as Georgia Peach in the summer. Locals travel farther into Loves Park for big-box shopping at Walmart Supercenter, Aldi and more chain options, and into downtown Rockford for a night out before a show at the historic Coronado Theater.
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Rockford’s full event calendar
The Ski Broncs hit the water each Wednesday evening throughout the summer, save for cancellations from flood warnings. The team has a continued impact on Rockford and Loves Park, teaching amateur skiers of all ages and even extending lessons to disabled members of the community with their inclusive program, Adaptive Adventures. Beyond the Broncs, residents will want to explore everything Rockford has in the works. “The city’s got so many different parks and music events going on,” Corey says. “There’s great shows at Sinnissippi [Park], little food truck carousels, the Anderson Japanese Gardens, and now they’ve got the Hard Rock Casino coming soon. Downtown’s really been redeveloping too.”
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The Harlem Consolidated School District learning pathway
Like most of Loves Park, public school students in Martin Shorewood are zoned for the Harlem Consolidated School District. Kindergarten attendance is optional in Illinois, but locals can choose to send their tots to Windsor Lake KinderCare or preschool programs like Grace Lutheran Preschool before heading up to Loves Park Elementary School for first through sixth grade. The school is right within the community on Grand Avenue and scores a B-minus from Niche. Harlem Middle School teaches seventh and eighth grade and gets a C-plus, and Harlem High School scores a B. In addition to Advanced Placement courses, students can take early college credit courses through nearby Rock Valley College. Private, tuition-based schools are also popular in the Rockford region. Residents live about a mile from St. Bridget School, a Catholic option for prekindergarten through eighth grade. Kids can graduate from here to Boylan Catholic High School, which gets an A-minus from Niche. Keith Country Day School—which gets an A-plus—offers a tight-knit environment with a 7-to-1 student-teacher ratio from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
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Driving into Rockford and future Metra plans to Chicago
Save for short walks to nearby parks and restaurants, residents hit North 2nd Street or head across the river to Main Street to reach downtown Rockford in 4 to 5 miles by car. Those taking Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD) buses head into the city from stops along North 2nd, but for the return trip home, they’ll be heading up the opposite side of the Rock River via Rockton Avenue. With busy Interstate 90 as the only connecting thread to Chicago for over 50 years, current residents have a long commute ahead if they work outside of the Illinois Northern Stateline Region. In 2023, city and state officials announced the return of Metra to Rockford for the first time since 1981. The station is projected for completion in 2027, with two roundtrips per day totaling about 2 hours each way. Until then, drivers take East Riverside Boulevard all the way down to Interstate 90 for the rest of the 92-mile drive. As for medical care, the closest emergency room is about 5 miles away at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Corey West
Video By
Marcus Rosendoll
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Kimberly Taylor
Kimberly Taylor
NextHome First Class
(815) 908-5519
820 Total Sales
1 in Martin Shorewood
$191,500 Price
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Kathleen Oehlberg
Kathleen Oehlberg
Realty One Group Strategies
(815) 706-5733
249 Total Sales
3 in Martin Shorewood
$82K - $145K Price Range
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Amanda Clark
Amanda Clark
Responds QuicklyGambino Realtors
(815) 623-0164
58 Total Sales
3 in Martin Shorewood
$150K - $226K Price Range
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Carin Powell
Carin Powell
Hometown Real Estate
(630) 912-8926
82 Total Sales
1 in Martin Shorewood
$215,000 Price
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Jasper St. Angel
Jasper St. Angel
Responds QuicklySt. Angel Real Estate
(815) 420-4708
109 Total Sales
2 in Martin Shorewood
$125,000 Price Range
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Sarah Vinnitsky
Sarah Vinnitsky
Responds QuicklyDICKERSON & NIEMAN
(815) 706-4217
60 Total Sales
1 in Martin Shorewood
$72,500 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
- 1st to 6th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Darryl F Lindberg Park
Martin Park
Sinnissippi Park
Wantz Park
Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Shorewood Park
Arthur W. Anderson Peace Park
Beattie Park Playground
Rock River Recreation Path
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Martin Shorewood | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Martin Shorewood Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Martin Shorewood, Loves Park sell after 59 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Martin Shorewood, Loves Park over the last 12 months is $381,465, up 70% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$423,995
Median Sale Price
$381,465
Median Single Family Sale Price
$379,900
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$338,930
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$870,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
36
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
70%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$284
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
484
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1950
Months of Supply
1.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,038
Above the national average
1,924
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
13,503
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,730
Median Age
39
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$45,472
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$60,301
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.8%
College Graduates
10.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
37''
Average Winter Low Temperature
15°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
34''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
60
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
47
/ 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
Churchill's Grove
Riverfront community with historic homes neighboring Rockford's Main Street
Edgewater
Riverfront community with historic homes neighboring Rockford's Main Street
North End Square
Historic community neighboring Rockford's Main Street with ties to the Civil War
Forest Hills View
Northeast Rockford suburb borders Forest Hills Country Club, Loves Park
Halsted Road
An established neighborhood 4 miles north of downtown Rockford
Jacoby Heights
A small pocket of homes by the Rock River and nature-based Rockford destinations
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