Canal and railroad construction throughout the 19th century drew high volumes of Irish immigrants to Manhattan, which incorporated in 1886 to license saloons. Today, this village of about 10,000 is the farthest outpost of Metra’s SouthWest Service Line and a new frontier for Chicagoland expansion. “You still have a small town feel and a country atmosphere in a sense,” says James Kroll, Manhattan resident and Broker/Manager at Century 21 Pride Realty. “But it’s starting to grow with all the new developments, and they’re bringing in more businesses.” Though it skirts the scale of development in other southwest suburbs, the village shares one more common benefit with its northeast neighbors: the coveted Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. “Manhattan is good if you want the benefit of the district, but not the same congestion as the rest of the Lincoln-Way area,” Kroll says.
Manhattan is located on the outskirts of the southern Chicago suburbs.
Manhattan is a blend of rural and suburban communities.
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Ranch-style Manhattan homes and new constructions breaking ground
The median home price in Manhattan is about $380,000, just under the national median and on par with nearby Mokena. A core of ranch-style homes, bungalows and Cape Cods is surrounded by patchwork subdivisions of new traditional duplexes and single-family homes. "It’s a whole lot of new,” Kroll says, listing Stonegate as one of many subdivisions breaking ground. “There’s a lot of good development space out here. You’re gonna have your bigger builders like Lennar coming in."
Ranch homes are common in Manhattan.
Manhattan homes come in a variety of architectural styles.
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From Manhattan elementary schools to Lincoln-Way West
Manhattan School District No. 114 encompasses three schools between prekindergarten through eighth grade and scores a B-plus from Niche. “They just built the beautiful new junior high school for sixth, seventh and eighth, and they’ve already got an expansion going in,” Kroll says. The second phase of development will add a fitness center and other amenities to the school, which opened its doors in 2024. After graduating, Manhattan students join peers from New Lenox, Frankfort and Mokena in Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which gets an A-plus rating from Niche. Buses travel to the city to bring students farther northeast. “I lived on the outskirts on 7 acres and the kids got picked up right at the front driveway,” Kroll says, “and all the neighborhoods have bus stops.” Some students on the southmost, rural end of Manhattan attend schools within Peotone Community Unit School District 207U, which scores a B-minus.
Lincoln-Way West High School is a highly-rated, public school located in New Lenox, IL.
Manhattan Junior High School offers plenty of fun after school activities.
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Locally owned Manhattan commerce and more southwest suburb options
Cornfields turn to pubs, sparse retail stores and small office buildings on U.S. Route 52 through the center of Manhattan. “You’ve got more mom-and-pops here, but they’re starting to bring in more franchises like Dunkin Donuts,” Kroll says. Folks grab groceries at the local Berkot's Super Foods, a chain common to rural areas of northern Illinois and Wisconsin. “You're within 5 to 10 minutes of all the conveniences of New Lenox, Frankfort and Mokena,” Kroll adds.
Manhattan residents can shop for fresh produce at the local Berkot's.
Gallagher's Pub & Grill is a favorite among Manhattan residents.
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Gearing up for Manhattan Irish Fest
5k runners decked out in green mark the beginning of Manhattan Irish Fest, a springtime staple for residents and visitors. The rest of the event features rugby games, a craft fair and performances by Irish dancers and bagpipe players. A free shuttle bus travels the circumference of the event, from Manhattan Junior High School Craft Fair, to an Irish Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, to a raffle to win a trip to the motherland.
Celtic spirit fills the air at Irish Fest in Manhattan.
Community pride shines bright at Irish Fest in Manhattan.
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Biking to Central Park
Smaller pocket parks with playgrounds dot the Manhattan map, though the most indoor and outdoor amenities are concentrated within the Central Park campus. This hub includes the Hansen Community Center, which features a fishing pond, pavilions, a splash pad and a rink for in-line skating in the warmer months and ice skating in the winter. "My son likes to ride his bike into town and go fishing or play basketball,” Kroll says. Along with neighborhood sidewalks and pathways, Manhattan links into the 22-mile, crushed limestone Wauponsee Glacial Trail.
Manhattan residents take in the serene surroundings at Central Park.
Your kids will love the playground at Round Barn Farm Park.
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Traveling from Manhattan to the Windy City
Metra’s SouthWest Service line arrives to Manhattan Station on weekdays to take passengers to Chicago Union Station in under an hour and a half. The Rock Island line, which has an expanded schedule through Saturdays, travels through New Lenox and Mokena. Though some amenities are within walking distance in Manhattan, most residents own cars. The Windy City is about 50 miles away, and drivers choose between Interstate 57 or Interstate 80 to make the trip.
Crime stats for Manhattan and Tornado Alley awareness
Illinois State Police data shows that crimes against people in Manhattan rose slowly between 2021 and 2024, while property crimes trended downward. Along with hot, humid summers and snowy winters, Manhattan residents keep an ear to news of tornadoes. A category EF-2 downed trees and damaged homes throughout the Ranch Oaks subdivision in 2024. Will County tests outdoor warning sirens on the first Tuesday of each month.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Patrick Kelley
Video By
Kyo Nguyen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Angelica Jones,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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