$652,112Average Value$197Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
Forest preserves surround suburban streets 25 miles from Chicago
In the middle of the Palos Forest Preserves sits the Little Red School Nature Center. It was built to serve as a one-room schoolhouse in the late 1800s, moved by a man and his mule in the 1930s and, since 1955, has educated curious hikers as they explore the more than 15,000 acres that make up the Palos Preserves. “It is dark out here, and we don’t have Chicago lights obscuring the sky,” says Barry Gaw with RE/MAX 10, a Palos Park local who’s accumulated nearly 50 years of real estate experience. In 2021, the Preserves were designated the world’s largest Urban Night Sky Place, a starry retreat just 25 miles outside of the Windy City; people come from near and far to admire constellations and scan the trees for wide-eyed owls. Although Palos Park West is defined by its proximity to nature — residents can fish in horsetail lake, mountain bike along the Sag Valley Trail System and cross-country ski come winter — the neighborhood is also a short drive away from large-scale shopping centers like the Orland Square Mall. “Palos Park was considered far from the city at the turn of the century. It was a place for artists and poets and writers from the University of Chicago to do their thinking and work on their projects,” notes Gaw. In many ways, Palos Park West is still a forest retreat. These days, however, summer homes are occupied by year-rounders. Subdivisions and top-rated school systems welcome growing families.
Palos Park West is located southwest of Chicago.
Palos Park West has many nature preserves to choose from.
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Varied prices: Townhomes, brick-sided single families and custom-built mansions
“In Palos Park, you can have a million and a half to two million dollar mansions across the street from a little cottages,” says Gaw. “Nobody cares. It’s a friendly community regardless of where you live.” Recent decades in the western portion of Palos Park have seen the rise of subdivisions like the McCord Place Townhomes, where three-bedroom units with attached two-car garages hover between the mid $400,000s and $500,000s. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, brick-sided homes built in the 1980s start around $330,000 and larger, Tudor-inspired multi-story houses from the same era can sell for close to $700,000. Streets are quiet enough for bike riding lessons, grass is cut to a uniform length and sidewalks leave plenty of room for walking the dog. As noted by Gaw, the neighborhood’s most expensive houses can sell for well above $1 million. These custom-built mansions sit on sizeable lots, an acre or more, and some residents even keep their own horses (although “equestrian properties are not the norm”).
Millennial Mansions in Palos Park West.
Residents enjoy safe sidewalks throughout Palos Park West.
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A-rated public schools with plenty of extracurricular opportunities
Along with direct access to nature preserves, one of Palos Park West’s main appeals is its public school system. Children can attend Palos East Elementary, Palos South Middle and Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, all of which received A grades from the educational review site Niche. Over 80% of graduating students from Amos Alonzo Stagg High go on to attend college within two years, and the high school is also known for its wide variety of extracurriculars including the Staggline, a student-run newspaper with a dedicated staff of writers, cartoonists and photographers. Instrumentalists can join the Marching Chargers to participate in elaborate field shows; the band has also traveled to perform at Disney World several times.
Palos West Elementary School strives to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of kids.
Residents of Palos Park West love Palos South Middle School for their programming.
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The Sag Valley Trail System, ice fishing and nearby country clubs
According to Gaw, “There are so many trails in the area, and people also like to pull up in their cars to have picnics.” The unpaved Sag Valley Trail System spans over 20 miles, making it popular with dog walkers and mountain bikers; it’s not uncommon to spot a horseback rider. Those up for a challenging workout head to the Swallow Cliff Stairs, once the site of a toboggan run, and locals cast out their lines for catfish and largemouth bass in the Saganashkee Slough, a manmade lake that spans 377 acres. Come winter, stop by Papoose Lake for ice fishing. Alternatively, those in search of a more curated outdoor experience can reserve a tee time at the Palos Country Club or drive to the playground in Brentwood Park.
Scenic creek at Swallow Cliff Woods.
Palos Park West has several miles of bike trails.
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Preserving the arts at the McCord House Gallery and year-round festivals
In Palos Park, the McCord House Gallery and Cultural Center has managed to preserve the village’s legacy as an artists’ community. The space hosts student exhibitions, watercolor workshops and artisan markets during the holiday season. Pick up tickets to watch a performance by the Palos Village Players at the Palos Park Recreation Center (across from the public library), or count down the days until the village’s Tree Lighting and Holiday Party in December. There’s also Concert in the Park come June, an event complete with dancing, face painting and balloon animals. In September, the Autumn in the Park festival means a parade, plenty of food vendors and even a traveling petting zoo. Of course, Downtown Chicago is host to a long list of arts and culture opportunities, from nationally recognized museums (like the Museum of Torture and the Art Institute) to touring Broadway shows. Although the city is only about 25 miles away, keep in mind that it can take up to an hour to reach depending on Interstate 55 traffic.
Little Red Schoolhouse contains a small museum for Palos Park West residents to enjoy.
Residents of Palos Park West enjoy a morning at the Little Red Schoolhouse.
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An old-fashioned ice cream parlor and department stores in Orland Square
Although Palos Park West residents are bordered by thousands of acres of forest, retail and dining options also aren’t too far away — 25 miles from Chicago, Medieval fairytale meets suburban convenience. Gaw says that Plush Horse, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that first opened its doors in 1937, is a “big claim to fame” in Palos Park. “Generations come from all over to enjoy the ice cream. My favorite is vanilla malt, and they have pumpkin in the fall,” he says. Or make a date night reservation at Francesca’s, ordering their fresh-made spaghetti pomodoro and fettuccine with braised short rib. Three miles south, Orland Square is anchored by department stores like JCPenney, Macy’s and Von Maur. Across the street, stop for groceries at Trader Joe’s. Or pick up ingredients a bit closer to home at Jewel-Osco and Aldi.
Palos Park West residents can get ice cream or baked good at Plush Horse.
Palos Park residents have access to plentiful dining options at the Orland Square Mall.
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Palos Park West residents can hop on the local Metra for a quick ride to Downtown Chicago.
CTA buses, Metra and Chicago Midway
When they’re not riding their mountain bikes, walking or horseback riding through the Palos Preserves, residents generally rely on their cars to get from place to place. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses stop along major Palos Park arteries like La Grange Road, and Chicago’s commuter rail system, Metra, passes through the village en route to downtown — SouthWest service fares from Palos Park to Union Station cost $6.75. For long-distance travel, head to Chicago Midway International Airport, which offers direct flights to nearly 70 U.S. cities and over 10 international destinations. Chicago O'Hare offers even more options just north of the city. Palos Park West residents also have easy access to medical care at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, a 425-bed facility, and UChicago Medicine Orland Park, which offers specialty and primary care about 2 miles south down U.S. Route 45.
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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On average, homes in Palos Park West, Palos Park sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Palos Park West, Palos Park over the last 12 months is $556,500, up 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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