Convenient shopping options, simple commutes and nearby recreation make life in Machesney Park refreshingly straightforward. Located between Rockford, Illinois, and Beloit, Wisconsin, this city of about 23,000 residents has a well-established housing market and access to both larger cities’ entertainment. “It’s got a small town feel but with a good amount of activities around. There’s no shortage of things to do,” says Jaron Bertelsen, a Realtor with Keller Williams Signature who has sold homes in the area for over five years.
Machesney Park is a suburban oasis that is a nice place to call your home.
Enjoy entertainment, shopping, and dining options in the River District of Rockford.
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Subdivision living in northern Illinois
“We haven't had a lot of brand-new construction lately, so it's mostly older homes, maybe some early 2000s homes here and there. It’s a blend,” Bertelsen says. Dixon Pines, Wexford Place and other subdivisions exemplify the suburban character of life here, with ranch-style, new traditional and Colonial Revival houses built between the 1960s and the 2010s. Selected condos and townhomes from a similar period are rare finds. Machesney Park’s median home price of $185,000 is below the national median of about $405,000 and the state median of about $289,000.
Colonial Revivals, condos, and ranches in Machesney Park are from the mid to late 2000s.
Machesney Park’s median home price of $185,000 is below the IL state median of $289,000.
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Learning experiences at Harlem public schools
Harlem School District 122 serves most students in Machesney Park. The district includes 8 elementary schools and an early education center for preschoolers and earns a B from Niche. All seventh and eighth graders in the district attend Harlem Middle School in nearby Loves Park. The school has about 1,000 students and earns a B-minus grade on Niche. Harlem High School serves older kids and earns a B.
Harlem Middle School, in Loves Park, serves grades 7-8, with around 957 students.
Harlem High School is part of Harlem School District 122 and earns a B-minus on Niche.
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Days out at Rock Cut State Park
Just southeast of town, Rock Cut State Park has two lakes for fishing, ice skating and sailing, along with multi-use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. Beyond the city limits, the Rockford Park District includes more than 150 parks and facilities. Golfers can practice their drives at Atwood Homestead Golf Course, an 18-hole club built within a forest preserve.
“We get all four seasons here. Right now, it’s really cold, but in the springtime, it gets up to the 60s and 70s,” Bertelsen says. Winters get plenty of snow between November and March, while summers are warm and humid. Areas along the Rock River on the west side of town may be more susceptible to floods during heavy storms or other inclement weather; the area holds a high score on First Street's Flood Factor index.
Rock Cut State Park is the largest state park in Illinois, not far from Machesney Park.
The Atwood Homestead Golf Course is a public course in Machesney Park enjoyed by many.
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Familiar brands for dining and everyday goods on West Lane Road
West Lane Road is Machesney Park’s main drag for major retailers. For everyday needs, brands like Target, Meijer and Kroger are nearby, alongside specialized stops like GameStop, PetSmart and T.J. Maxx. Dining options in the village are similarly focused on familiar brands, with casual options such as Chili’s, Chipotle and Buffalo Wild Wings placed between the big box stores. Fast food includes McDonald’s, Taco Bell and local gyro chain Tom & Jerry’s.
Machesney Park includes access to a variety of nearby big-box grocers including Target.
West Lane Road is Machesney Park’s main drag for major retailers.
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Baseball up north in Beloit, WI
Events within Machesney Park are minimal, but residents can head out to the city’s neighboring communities for entertainment and outings. Residents can visit venues like the BMO Center for Rockford IceHogs hockey games, the Sinnissippi Park Music Shell for live music or catch Beloit Sky Carp baseball games at ABC Supply Stadium in Beloit.
For folks willing to make longer journeys for fun, lively options in Chicago and other nearby cities are an option for day trips. “People on the Illinois side occasionally forget that there’s plenty of things to do on the Wisconsin side, too. Up here, you’re only an hour or two out from everything in Madison and Milwaukee,” Bertelsen says.
Families can stop by the Sinnissippi Music Park Shell in Rockford for some summer fun.
The BMO Center in nearby downtown Rockford offers live entertainment.
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Commutes into Rockford for major employers
Commutes into Rockford are common for Machesney Park residents; large employers in Winnebago County include Rockford Public Schools, UW Health, Mercyhealth, OSF HealthCare and UPS. “There isn’t much in the way of big business [in Machesney Park itself], but there’s a good amount of jobs 10, 15 minutes out for most folks,” Bertelsen says.
Machesney Park’s main thoroughfares, North Second Street/Illinois Route 251 and West Lane Road/Illinois Route 173, are its connections to the greater North Illinois area and southern Wisconsin. The village is about 7 miles northeast of Rockford and 13 miles south of Beloit. Folks headed southeast to Chicago can expect to get there within two hours with regular traffic; the Windy City is about 87 miles away.
Important things to know
According to data sourced from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, violent crime rates in Machesney Park are generally lower than those in the United States and Illinois. Property crime has mostly followed the downward trends seen nationwide and across the state.
Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside is about 6 miles southeast for medical treatment.
Residents can catch flights from Chicago Rockford International Airport, about 11 miles south of town.
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