$184,929Average Value$140Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A main thoroughfare defines this community
North of downtown Racine lies the Lower First Ward, a walkable community centered around Main Street. This thoroughfare divides local novelty shops, bars, and restaurants from lakefront properties and activities. “The wards are all grouped together, so you don’t have to travel far,” says Michael Klug, a Realtor with RE/MAX Newport. “The neat thing about living here is the proximity to North Beach and downtown, period.” North Beach, located on Lake Michigan's shores, attracts bikers and locals walking along the shoreline in the summer months. The accessible beach provides easy walking access to several amenities, including a yacht club, a hiking trail, and a snack bar.
Quick, easy access to Lake Michigan, Racine Zoo
With more than 50 acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Racine’s North Beach is just a short walk for most Lower First Ward residents. The beach features more than 2,500 feet of shoreline and free parking, making it a popular spot for sand volleyball, picnics, and Kids Cove Playground—a lakefront park with mostly wooden play equipment and a boardwalk. The Racine Yacht Club, a historic private club, offers amenities for boat owners, while River’s End Marina is open to the public and provides a docking area for owners to relax and eat at nearby restaurants.
Adjacent to North Beach, the Racine Zoo attracts about 140,000 visitors annually. The 32-acre park showcases exhibits featuring more than 300 animals and a Zoo Conservation Education Department, which offers educational programs, holiday events, summer camps, scout programs and behind-the-scenes encounters and tours.
A family enjoys walking the boardwalks and dunes at North Beach Park.
Operated by the Racine Zoological Society, the Racine Zoo is home to lions, bears, and more.
1/2
Local mom-and-pop shops, dive bars along Main Street
Main Street in this neighborhood offers plenty of dining and entertainment options. Local dive bars like Coasters Bar & Grill and George's Encore are popular stops, as are unique Italian eateries like DeRango the Pizza King & Premium Chocolates, which serves handmade chocolates alongside Italian breaded mushrooms. Gypsy Java, a community coffee shop, displays art posted from nearly 60 local artists on its walls. Misha’s Treasures, a local mom-and-pop shop, offers collectible antiques, art, and home decor. For grocery needs, ALDI is located just two miles outside the community.
There are fun crafting options at the Craft Class at Gypsy Java in The Lower First Ward.
Located in downtown Racine, Kewpee Sandwich Shop has been in business since the 1920s.
1/2
Single-family Bungalows, duplexes throughout area
The Lower First Ward offers a variety of living options, from quiet lakefront properties overlooking Lake Michigan to single-family bungalows along the bustling Main Street. “It’s all about location within these pockets because you may get an $800,000 to $1.5 million lakefront property now but will see plenty of $150,000 average-priced homes,” says Vincent Devall, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. “Usually, you will see a mix of bungalows, two-story ranch homes, and Cape Cods.” Homebuyers in this area can expect single-family bungalows or duplexes to sell for between $115,000 and $180,000, while lakefront properties typically start at $200,000.
Craftsman and Dutch Colonial homes appear alongside one another in the Lower First Ward.
There are several gable-front cottages with creative flourishes in the Lower First Ward.
1/2
Free events at Racine Art Museum, Heritage Museum
Family-friendly, hands-on arts and crafts are held at the Racine Art Museum during free "First Fridays" events. Learn about Racine’s history at the Racine Heritage Museum, which features exhibits on the city’s first drum and bugle corps and the life of Frank Lloyd Wright Sr. A number of buildings in Racine were designed and created by Wright, a Wisconsin native.
SC Johnson's headquarters was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright near the Lower First Ward.
The Racine Heritage Museum has informative panels and exhibits about Racine's history.
1/2
Title 1 offered at Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School
Janes Elementary School, the closest public school in the neighborhood, serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade and has a C-minus rating from Niche. Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School, which also receives a C-minus rating, participates in Title I, a federally funded program providing financial assistance to public schools to help students from low-income families meet academic standards. Horlick High School, named after William Horlick, the original patent holder for malted milk, holds a C-plus rating.
Jerstad-Agerholm School has 899 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.
Horlick High School has 1,340 students with a C plus grade according to Niche.
1/2
Ryde Racine partners with Racine Unified School District
Locals rely on Ryde Racine, the city’s public transit system, which features nearly 700 stops covering 200 miles throughout Racine, to navigate the neighborhood and nearby communities. Ridership has grown by 40%, driven by successful outreach and partnerships with the Racine Unified School District, according to Transit Director Trevor Jung. Residents are 18 miles south of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. The nearest hospital, Ascension All Saints Hospital, is 3 miles away.
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
On average, homes in The Lower First Ward, Racine sell after 22 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in The Lower First Ward, Racine over the last 12 months is $175,000, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
RECENTLY APPRAISED FOR $262,000 - Don't miss this beautifully updated east-facing duplex just one block from Lake Michigan and the acclaimed North Beach! The upper unit features 3 bedrooms and 1 bath with glimpses of the lake from the second floor, while the lower unit offers 2 spacious bedrooms and 1 bath. Perfect for owner-occupants or investors, this property blends charm with modern updates
Blackstone Realty Services TeamKeller Williams Milwaukee South Shore
For the love of old homes! Unobstructed views of Lake Michigan in this 3 bedroom property. Bring your ideas to this beautiful colonial home. Tons of character and charm. Hardwood floors in the great room & sun room overlooking the lake. Dining room with stained glass French doors. Iconic swinging door to the kitchen that has a very retro vibe as well as a cozy eat in nook. Large stairwell leads
Upper 2 bedroom apartment located within Minutes from Lake Michigan, and Racine Zoo. Nice shared driveway and yard. NO PRIOR EVICTIONS, BACKGROUND CHECK, and CREDIT CHECK REQUIRED. This one is available as of today rent is nonnegotiable.
Lake Front All Inclusive Turn Key Rental Home including all Furnishings. Lake Front Living with Two Tiered Deck including Walk Out from Master Bedroom. Enjoy the convenient location, the Lake views from every room, and the convenience of everything the Racine/Mount Pleasant area has to offer. Shorter term and longer term options may be available. Pets maybe permitted depending on breed. Positive
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
