A small city close to everything off of Interstate 80
Morris is a small city of about 14,000 people, 61 miles southwest of Chicago. “For better or worse, everybody knows everybody," says Realtor Sarah Short. "There’s a cute little downtown area that people really like, and they’re adding new things all the time. There’s a bunch of stuff there now that wasn’t there when we moved out this way a couple of years ago. They got a Starbucks that wasn’t in the grocery store, so people were happy about that.” Short explains the city’s growth simply: “People are moving that way because the property taxes are lower than in Saratoga Township, and you still have close access to everything off of [Interstate] 80,” she says.
The area’s top employers include the Lyondell Chemical Company and Exelon Corporation, which operate three nuclear power plants that generate energy for Chicago and the surrounding region.
61 miles southwest of Chicago, Morris is a small city of about 14,000 people.
Exelon Corporation operates three nuclear power plants in Morris.
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Lower taxes than in Shorewood and Plainfield
Morris’s median housing price is $285,000, about $120,000 below the national median. Single-family home options are typically ranch-style or new traditional, and land listings are frequently available. “There’s a decent amount of agricultural land, but they’re running out of land for new construction,” Short says. The average home value in Morris has steadily risen since 2020. “The prices have certainly gone up, but it still seems to be more affordable than further north,” Short says. “Taxes in Morris are quite a bit lower than in the Shorewood/Plainfield area and certainly lower than in the rest of the county.”
Ranch homes are a common sight in Morris.
There are many homes with new traditional influences in Morris.
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City parks, state parks and the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail
Morris has 13 city parks, including one for dogs, and four state parks offering hiking, birdwatching, fishing and various other outdoor activities. William G. Stratton State Park has public boat ramps for fishing and water sports, while the 30-acre Gebhard Woods State Park is a destination for hiking, camping and canoeing.
William G. Stratton State Park has public boat ramps for fishing and water sports.
The 30-acre Gebhard Woods State Park is a destination for hiking, camping and canoeing.
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Public schools, private schools and Joliet Junior College
Several school districts operate in the city. Morris School District No. 54 gets a C rating from Niche, Nettle Creek CCSD 24 receives a B and Saratoga School District 60C gets an A. The B-rated Morris Community High School ranks as Grundy County’s second-best public high school on Niche. Morris is home to the private Immaculate Conception School for preschoolers through eighth graders and Premier Academy, a state-funded school for sixth through twelfth-grade students with learning differences. Joliet Junior College’s Morris Education Center offers credit and non-credit courses, English as a Second Language and the opportunity to earn the State of Illinois High School Diploma.
Immaculate Conception School serves grades PK and K through 8 with 156 students.
Morris Community High School has 946 students with an overall B grade according to Niche.
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Dining in downtown Morris
“The downtown area is pretty much all local businesses,” Short says. “I don’t think there are any chains at all. There are restaurants, boutiques, candy shops and a little painting studio where you can do paint nights.” She recommends dining at Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, a family-owned Italian restaurant, or Turtles Tap, a local bar and grill serving American fare.
Turtles Tap is a relaxed bar and grill featuring comfort food staples.
Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria is family-owned with delicious Italian options.
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The National Flood Insurance Program and the Morris Police Department
Morris has average high temperatures in the 80s in the summer and average lows in the teens in the winter. Its annual precipitation hovers between 35 and 40 inches. Morris' location along the Illinois River makes homes here susceptible to flood damage. Morris participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, meaning homeowners here are eligible for federally-managed flood insurance. FBI data shows that Morris has seen a decrease in property crime since 2020, while its violent crime rate has remained about the same.
Interstate 80, Grundy Transit System and Chicago airports
Interstate 80 runs through the city and connects it to Chicago, and there is no Metra station in Morris. Residents can schedule rides with Grundy Transit System to get anywhere within the county. Chicago Midway International Airport is 54 miles away, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport is 61 miles away.
Grundy County Corn Festival
Morris held the 75th Grundy County Corn Festival in 2024, an annual celebration of the county’s agricultural history. The five-day festival includes carnival games, craft shows, live music and a farm fair. It wraps up on Sunday with a parade through town with floats, bands and horse-drawn carriages.
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