Ballard Terrace
Neighborhood in Niles, Illinois
Cook County 60714
Ample housing styles and options in Ballard Terrace
In Ballard Terrace, single-family homes and townhouses share residential streets with a handful of apartment buildings scattered throughout the neighborhood. Ranch-style homes and bilevels with beige brick and stone façades range in price from $320,000 to $550,000, while custom builds exceeding 4,000 square feet range between $650,000 and around $1 million. These varying styles often neighbor each other on gridded avenues lined with sidewalks and ample street parking. However, most homes provide attached or detached garages with paved driveways. Similarly, midcentury townhome communities offer designated parking areas. These units are typically priced between $220,000 and $350,000. “We’re pretty ethnically diverse here, too,” Piot says, noting how the neighborhood’s diversity extends beyond housing styles. “Neighbors come together for block parties, and the city encourages it. They even provide tents.”
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Golf Mill Park hosts city-wide events among family-friendly amenities
Walkable outdoor recreation is an integral part of life in Ballard Terrace, especially considering Niles is one of the closest suburbs to the concrete jungle of Chicago. Golf Mill Park is one such place, where paved walking paths weave between a pond, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts. But beyond the park’s amenities, Golf Mill is also home to many city-wide events. Families kick off summer at the District 63 Education Foundation Fun Fest & Carnival, complete with rides, games and food vendors fundraising for the district. At summer’s end, the park hosts Niles Cruise Nights Grand Finale, bidding farewell to the season with a classic car and drone show. In the winter months, Holly Jolly Fest makes the most of the cold with hot cocoa, s’mores fire pits, horse-drawn sleigh rides and even an opportunity to meet Santa. The IceLand Ice Area sits just south, where competitive hockey leagues share indoor and outdoor rinks with public skaters holding season passes.
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East Maine School District 63
Students in Ballard Terrace begin at the East Maine School District 63, one of 10 districts serving the city. “Niles doesn’t have its own district, which is rare for a city of almost 30,000 people,” Piot says. “Somebody drew these lines over 100 years ago, and they’ve stayed that way. So, we choose where we live to get the schools we want without the extra property taxes.” V.H. Nelson Elementary earns a B-minus on Niche, enrolling less than 500 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Despite enrolling more than 1,000 students, Gemini Middle School maintains the same ratio and earns a B-plus on Niche. Maine East High School is part of the Maine Township High School District 207, overlapping with District 63. The high school’s 6-story tower is somewhat of a landmark on Dempster Street, inspired by UCLA’s Powell Library Building. Famously the alma mater of Hillary Clinton and Harrison Ford, Maine East offers 18 Advanced Placement courses and is home to the founding chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
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Commuter’s choice: I-94 or the Metra to Chicago
Residents of Ballard Terrace are mostly car-dependent, but those preferring public transit can check out the Niles Free Bus. "Where I live, I have a strip mall within walking distance. But no one wants to walk a half-hour for amenities," Piot says. Walkable stops line Ballard Road and Dempster Street, ideal for "the kiddos who don't have their driver's license yet." Chicago commuters typically rely on I-294, which connects to I-90 on the way to the city. Others take I-94 directly south to Downtown. The 20-mile trip, however, is just as easily made by train. The nearest Metra stops are located 3 miles west at Dee Road and 3 miles east at Morton Grove, each offering a 30-minute ride to Union Station. Back home, the nearest emergency room—Advocate Lutheran General Hospital—sits a mile west on Dempster Street. Those traveling out of state usually fly out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 8 miles south. While the airport is accessible via I-294, commuters will run into significantly less traffic by taking side streets like Greenwood Road.
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Checkerboard floors and red plastic booths at Niles Grill Diner
Milwaukee Avenue borders Ballard Terrace to the east, a highway many rely on for day-to-day shopping and dining. “We don’t have a huge dining scene, but there’s a lot of variety,” Piot says. “Sure, there aren’t any Michelin Star restaurants here, but we have plenty of mid-budget places that do just fine.” Papagalino’s Café, for example, serves everything from coffee and tiramisu to Spanakopitakia and Tiropitakia. Glass cases filled with Greek pastries complement the European bakery’s cushioned lounge chairs, curating a relaxed ambiance within walking distance of many homes. Just north, Niles Grill Diner is a humble American breakfast spot known for its checkboard floors, red plastic booths and walls crowded with posters, street signs and knick-knacks. The thoroughfare’s shopping centers, including Golf Mill and Millbrook, cover the essentials. From Target, Burlington and JCPenney to Fresh Farms International Market, Marshalls and Walmart Supercenter, residents will find plenty of grocers and retailers within a mile of their street.
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Written By
Dana Chesser
Photography Contributed By
Chris Jeong
Video By
Colleen Carey
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Steven Goodman
Steven Goodman
Keller Williams Thrive
(224) 328-2871
159 Total Sales
1 in Ballard Terrace
$580,000 Price
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Karina Hiselman
Karina Hiselman
Compass
(872) 217-9978
88 Total Sales
2 in Ballard Terrace
$255K - $295K Price Range
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Vasilios Nikolopoulos
Vasilios Nikolopoulos
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(224) 509-6797
17 Total Sales
1 in Ballard Terrace
$760,000 Price
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Mark Ahmad
Mark Ahmad
Responds QuicklyCentury 21 Circle
(773) 830-3214
333 Total Sales
1 in Ballard Terrace
$446,000 Price
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Kathy Szram
Kathy Szram
Responds QuicklyKABS Realty INC
(815) 981-3221
195 Total Sales
1 in Ballard Terrace
$265,000 Price
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Jack Stempien
Jack Stempien
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX City
(866) 515-7127
62 Total Sales
1 in Ballard Terrace
$265,150 Price
Schools
Source:
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Golf-Mill Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Soccer
Jonquil Terrace Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
Ballard Park
IceLand Skate
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Ballard Terrace | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Ballard Terrace Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Ballard Terrace, Niles sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Ballard Terrace, Niles over the last 12 months is $316,000, down 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$319,999
Median Sale Price
$316,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$515,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$310,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$215,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
20
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$263
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
431
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1962
Months of Supply
1.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,999
Significantly above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,279
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,000
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,599
Median Age
43
Population under 18
21%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$66,759
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$109,345
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.9%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
40%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13.9%
% Population in Labor Force
63.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
18''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
56
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
85
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
50
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Courtland Park
Convenient suburban amenities just 20 miles from downtown Chicago
Oak Park
Convenient & culturally diverse residential enclave in northern Niles.
Ransom Ridge
In between Niles and Park Ridge's schools and amenities
Washington Park
Townhomes and houses overlooking Niles's new mall
Park Ridge
Small-town atmosphere with a vibrant downtown scene in Chicago's northwest suburbs
Emerson Place
A Niles address with access to highly-rated Park Ridge schools
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