Manteno has everyday amenities in the heart of Kankakee County
About 50 miles from Chicago, Manteno is a suburban village with a close community. “It’s a smaller, friendly town with awesome parks, mom-and-pop shops and a great location to Chicago,” says Gina LaMore, the managing broker for LaMore Realty, who has sold in the area for 12 years. “It’s a little golf cart community where everybody knows everybody.” With commercial development along Main Street and a centralized square for local gatherings, Manteno has numerous small-town characteristics.
Manteno caters to the golf cart community with its safe streets and free parking.
Manteno thrives on local business and residents know each other by name at The Beauty Company.
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A strong park system and nearby golf courses for year-round recreation
Manteno has numerous parks connected by a network of walking paths. A block from Main Street, The Square has play structures for children, including a zipline, splash pad and an inflatable play surface known as a jumping pillow. Lucille Thies Park underwent renovations in 2024 and now features pickleball and shuffleboard courts, a whiffleball field and a playground. Legacy Park also has athletic fields, a year-round skating rink and an amphitheater for outdoor movie viewings during the summer. Golfers often head south to the public Aspen Ridge Golf Course in Bourbonnais and the private Kankakee Country Club. “There isn’t a golf course in Manteno anymore, but there are plenty of them nearby,” LaMore says. “People still get around by golf cart here, though. It’s just part of the character of the neighborhood.” Instead of making the hour-long drive to Lake Michigan, many residents join the Manteno Sportsman’s Club to enjoy its private beach on Lake Manteno.
The Pillow as is its called by Manteno locals is a public bounce pad at the Square.
Lake Manteno offers beach access and sandy shores to locals looking to swim.
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Choosing from a wide range of property sizes, prices and styles
A variety of housing types line the quiet suburban streets of Manteno. Buyers may choose from different lot sizes, many with driveways, garages and modest front lawns. A few 55-plus communities have manufactured homes, selling from around $10,000 to $125,000. Townhouses start slightly higher at $160,000 and can reach $360,000. Most of the market comprises single-family ranch-style homes with pitched roofs and New Traditional properties. Single-family prices typically fall between $185,000 and $500,000.
New Traditional homes with multi-car garages and manicured lawns are popular in Manteno.
Classic ranch style homes can be found in abundance throughout Manteno.
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Students attend top-rated public schools
According to Niche, Manteno Community Unit School District No. 5 is the best in Kankakee County. Children begin their education at Manteno Elementary and Manteno Middle, both with B-plus grades on Niche. Manteno High earns a B and offers extracurricular activities that cater to many interests. Students can participate in co-ed sports programs, academic clubs and fine arts groups, including a show choir and jazz band.
Manteno Middle School prepares children for higher education.
Manteno High School ranks highly for its sports and extracurricular programs.
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Dining on Main Street and shopping in Bourbonnais
Locust Street has a few everyday shopping options, like Berkot’s Super Foods and CVS. About 5 miles south, Bourbonnais has many of the county’s big-box stores, including Walmart and Target, and Northfield Square Mall covers retail needs. Main Street houses most of the village’s restaurants, like Sammy’s Pizza of Manteno, which is popular for its outdoor patio. Just a block from Main, adjacent to The Square, The Well is becoming a hot spot for morning coffee. Yannis Café and Mayberry Junction are two village classics that have served American comfort food for over 30 years.
Mayberry Junction is the favorite breakfast spot on Locust St amongst Manteno residents.
The Northfield Square Mall offers nearby large scale retail to Manteno shoppers.
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Seasonal events have built long-lasting traditions
The village comes together for many occasions throughout the year, from a garden and arts festival in the spring to Oktoberfest each fall. Oktoberfest is one of the area’s most significant events, with beer tents, three music stages and 25 carnival rides and games. Each December, the community gathers in The Square to see Santa sleighing down Main Street, shop at the holiday market and watch the annual tree lighting. Participating stores also give out seasonal treats for the Main Street Business Walk. The Square hosts a summer concert series, as well. “Rockin’ on The Square is really cute. People come out with their own food and drinks to picnic while listening to the music,” LaMore says.
Commuting by golf cart, car and bus
When residents aren’t getting around the village by golf cart, they can take their cars on Interstate 57 into Chicago, 50 miles north. River Valley Metro buses also link to towns around Kankakee County and take passengers to Midway International Airport, 45 miles away, and O’Hare International Airport, about 20 miles farther north.
Freight trains run through downtown Manteno on the hour.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport takes about 15 million passengers in a year.
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Written By
Grace Pitney
Photography Contributed By
Brett Bulthuis
Video By
Jeffrey Knight
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
George Venturella,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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