McHenry

Originally designed as a serene summer vacation getaway for Chicagoans, McCullom Lake communities still maintain a peaceful vibe and enjoy all the benefits of the waterfront. Lakeland Park sits on the lake’s southern shore and the quiet streets are lined with mature pines and oaks. The neighborhood is comprised of modest, single-family homes on small but well-kept lots, with around 50 residences featuring lakefront views and private water access. <br><br>The average home value in Lakeland Park is $220,000, making it a bit more affordable than the average neighborhood in McHenry. Bi-levels, ranch-style homes and Cape Cods are common here with quarter and half-acre green lots adding to the curb appeal. On the lower end of the market, homebuyers will find 1,000 square-foot, single-story homes listed for $170,000, while waterfront homes with four bedrooms, 3,000 square feet and 1-acre lots can be listed for $400,000 and above. Additionally, most houses in the area were built between the 1950s and ‘80s. <br><br>“It’s a community where everyone knows everyone, largely because many of the residents have been living here for decades,” says Lisa Jensen, a local real estate agent with Keller Williams North Shore West. “The neighborhood is quite close-knit, and neighbors help one another out.” <br><br>All of the public schools serving the residents of Lakeland Park earn overall Niche grades of B-minus or higher. Valley View Elementary School hosts around 500 students, earns a B-plus overall grade from Niche and has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-1. Parkland School, with a B-minus rating, is within walking distance of most homes in the neighborhood and serves students in grades six through eight. McHenry County middle schoolers will find numerous sports-related summer camps to get involved in, including ones centered around golf, running, basketball and pole vault. After the eighth grade, students of Lakeland Park can head to McHenry High School, home of the Warriors, which boasts an impressive A-minus overall Niche grade. Over 50 extracurricular activities are offered at McHenry High, including clubs centered around powerlifting, activism, gardening and creative writing. <br><br>Neighborhood residents can do their grocery shopping at Jewel-Osco or Angelo’s Fresh Market, both located just south of Lakeland Park’s residential streets. After running some errands, pick up a refreshing tea or fruity beverage from Teame Boba. For lunch or dinner, grab a table at The Village Squire, where you can savor classic pub bites in a rustic, tavern-inspired atmosphere. <br><br>Whispering Oaks Park is home to a Prairie Trail access point, along with open fields, creeks and ponds. Those who don’t live on the waterfront can launch their canoes and kayaks from the Lakeland Park boat launch on shore drive. Local anglers can cast a line from the shore to fish for yellow perch, northern pike and yellow bass. Peterson Park is the area’s most expansive park, featuring baseball diamonds, a playground and multi-use sports fields. When the sun is shining, head to Peterson Park Beach to have a picnic on the sand before taking a swim in the lake's cool waters. Every summer, the park is home to McHenry Fiesta Days, which has been bringing folks from across McHenry County together to enjoy live music, carnival rides and games since it began in 1948. <br><br>Locals enjoy proximity to the McHenry Metra Station, just a half-mile away, which can take them 60 miles southeast to downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

To McHenry Shores residents, the waterfront is just as much a main thoroughfare as nearby Charles J Miller Highway. "The Fox River is huge for boating in McHenry," says Jackie Nelson, a local real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. "People can easily take the river up to the Chain O'Lakes." Situated just two miles south of downtown McHenry and bookended by two expansive nature preserves, this riverfront suburb is well-connected while offering privacy well enough away from the hustle and bustle. All homes in McHenry Shores are within a mile of the Fox River's western banks, and afternoons can float by on this popular waterway system or at McHenry Shores Beach Park. This waterfront park is a popular spot among local fishermen to reel in largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. A short drive south takes locals to Stickney Run, a 630-acre conservation area, where they can hike, cross-country ski or horseback ride along the mile-long, wooded trail before having an afternoon picnic under the covered pavilion. Moraine Hills State Park's 2,000 acres of hiking trails, fishing spots, and picnic areas are just across the Fox River. With 200 feathered species calling the park home, Moraine Hills is an ideal spot for birdwatching. Boaters spot Colonial Revivals, ramblers and bi-levels with private docks, but the neighborhood also stretches a good mile into the mainland. While most of the neighborhood's homes sit close together on quarter and half-acre lots, residents enjoy a degree of privacy granted by the area's mature trees and peaceful wooded areas. The more spacious waterfront homes are "business in the front" with snout-style garages jutting out onto long driveways and "party in the back" with private docks and peaceful views. Prices reach as low as $150,000 and as high as $370,000 for homes right on the water. The McHenry Chamber of Commerce uses every opportunity to get locals out on the town year-round. They kick off the spring season with the ShamROCKS the Fox Festival, which reprises the Chicago tradition of dyeing the waterway and brings the city to life with a parade and live music. The warmer months are ripe with wine walks and art markets, and in October, families don their thinking caps and scavenge for clues during the themed McHenry Murder Mystery. Folks from all over McHenry County pop their trunks and enjoy a film with concessions at McHenry Outdoor Theater. Locals can shop for groceries at Jewel-Osco or Angelo's Fresh Market, a family-owned local chain pairing daily essentials with Italian specialty items like handcrafted cannoli and Italian butter cookies. After running some errands, residents sit down for a midday meal at Brunch Café and choose from sweet and savory dishes like churro Belgian waffles and turkey avocado paninis. "There are lots of shopping and dining options in the area, and recently, a bunch of shops have opened on the riverwalk where local artisans can sell their artwork," Nelson adds. These Riverfront Shoppes—a unique concept conceived by the McHenry Chamber of Commerce—give small businesses a chance to test the market within a "village" of tiny storefronts from May to December. Locals can walk from shop to shop throughout the season while participating businesses receive educational workshops and more success boosters from the Chamber. Edgebrook Elementary serves McHenry Shores students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, while Chauncey H Duker School serves fourth and fifth graders. Niche rates these schools a B and a B-minus, respectively. Students at McHenry Middle School, which also scores a B-minus, can participate in extracurricular activities ranging from dance and wrestling to clubs centered around archery, running and comic books. The middle school also partners with programs like the American Music Institute's summer music camp and the McHenry Junior Warriors cheer and dance program. McHenry High School—receiving an A-minus from Niche—is divided across two campuses, one for first- and second-years and one for upperclassmen. Students here will find a range of career and technology courses to consider, including business management, consumer education, graphics and manufacturing. Though closer to the Wisconsin border than downtown Chicago, McHenry Shores is connected to the greater Chicagoland area by their Metra stop on the Union Pacific Northwest line. Locals can hop on the train to breach the 55 miles in about an hour and a half, not counting delays. State Route 31 is just west of McHenry Shore's residential streets, allowing easy access to all the restaurants and amenities of downtown McHenry. Charles J. Miller Memorial Highway gets healthcare workers and those needing care to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, under 2 miles away. To take off on longer journeys, residents hit U.S. 12 for 40 miles to Chicago O'Hare International Airport—and on slower days, locals can make stops along the riverfront in McHenry before heading further north to the Chain O'Lakes. Though homes west of the Fox benefit from higher elevation, homebuyers interested in waterfront properties should consider flood risk. Otherwise, a low CAP Index crime score of 2/10 and a sizeable distance from the buzz of downtown Chicago and Milwaukee make for peaceful days in McHenry Shores.