A suburban neighbor to Rockford and the Wisconsin border
Roscoe is one of the last stops on the drive from Rockford to Wisconsin, known for its school districts and convenience to employers between the two states. "Around Madison, it's hard to get a house, and the nice suburbs of Milwaukee on the lakefront can be pricey," says Melissa Smith, a Roscoe resident and an agent with Century 21 Affiliated. "It's located within reason to the highways to be about an hour to Milwaukee and Madison. From Chicago, it's about an hour and a half. It's convenient for people who need to travel for work." The village shares close boundary lines with Rockton and South Beloit amid cornfields and forest preserves. Despite space constraints, Roscoe is crafting opportunities for walkable mixed-use hubs -- though Rockford's River District and Janesville are within reach.
Rosoce offers affordable homes, with the convenience of other bigger cities nearby.
Roscoe is located within reason to the highways, making it an hour to Milwaukee and Madison.
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Housing market reflects Roscoe’s development boom
The median home price in Roscoe is around $320,000, below the same benchmarks for Madison and the nation but slightly higher than Janesville and neighboring Rockford suburbs. “Roscoe used to be a farm town, so it’s got newer homes but some older ones as well,” Smith says. “They are walkable as far as exercise or going for a run, but not all the neighborhoods have sidewalks. The farther out from town, the less they have them.” The housing market reflects a period of rapid growth from the 1990s through the 2010s, with many subdivisions consisting of ranch-style or New Traditional single-family homes and townhouses. Most have two- to three-car garages, and wide, tree-shaded yards are common. Data from the Illinois State Police shows that crimes against people and property in Roscoe increased from 2021 to 2024.
Ranch-style homes are common on residential streets in subdivisions of Roscoe.
New Traditional single-family homes with two to three-car garages are abundant in Roscoe.
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Roscoe’s split school district zoning
Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District No. 131 covers most of Roscoe and scores an A from Niche. It's one of three districts that provide elementary and middle school education within the village, all funneling into Hononegah Community High School in Rockton. "There are bus systems, but they have parameters on how far kids have to live from their school," Smith says. "Otherwise, the kids have to walk or drive." Some students on the south end of Roscoe are zoned for Machesney Park or Rockford schools for prekindergarten through 12th grade.
Kinnikinnick School in Roscoe scores an A from Niche.
Hononegah High School in Rockton ultimately serves all children of age in Roscoe.
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Shopping local or in Rockford and Janesville
Small shopping centers sit beside churches and standalone bars along Hononegah Road, Illinois Route 251 and Main Street. "Roscoe and Rockton have grocery stores and a pharmacy, but I find myself shopping in Rockford or Janesville in Wisconsin from time to time," Smith says. "I'm literally 5 miles south of the border and 30 minutes to Janesville." Smith adds that folks tend to make bigger purchases in Wisconsin, which has one of the country's lowest combined sales tax rates.
Small standalone bars, such as Whiffletree Tavern, sit along Main Street in Roscoe.
Small shopping centers in Roscoe are located along Hononegah Road.
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Crossing state lines to commute from Roscoe
Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 51 take Roscoe commuters across the Wisconsin border – 22 miles to Janesville, 60 to Madison and 81 to Milwaukee. "But now, with people working remotely, they don't do it every day," Smith says. Rockford's downtown core is about 12 miles in the opposite direction. While Mercyhealth and UW Health have urgent care and family medicine clinics in Roscoe, full-service hospitals are in Rockford, Beloit or over state lines. "Rockford has an airport, and Allegiant flies some routes that make it convenient," Smith says. "Otherwise, I'll go to Milwaukee Mitchell or O'Hare." Up to 3 feet of snow is normal each winter, and the village requires the owners of homes and businesses to clear any accumulation on adjacent public sidewalks within 12 hours.
Recreation along the Stone Bridge Trail and the Rock River
Community playgrounds and ball fields back up to many Roscoe subdivisions. The village’s contribution to the rails-to-trails movement is the Stone Bridge Trail, 6 miles of crushed limestone that cuts through two forest preserves between Roscoe and Harvard to the east. A portion of the 320-mile Rock River Trail also leads through Roscoe into South Beloit and Wisconsin cities. The Rock River itself is a backdrop for many parks in Roscoe and Rockton; Riverside Park includes a free boat launch and space for fishing. Rock Cut State Park, the largest in northern Illinois, is about 5 miles south of Roscoe, with more fishing across two lakes, campsites and trails.
The Rock River itself is a backdrop for many parks in Roscoe including Riverside Park.
Rock Cut State Park is the largest state park in Illinois, not far from Roscoe.
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Small business presence at seasonal Roscoe celebrations
Local food trucks fill the Roscoe Village Hall parking lot each Friday throughout the month of May. Roscoe businesses pass out candy alongside emergency vehicles at Truck or Treat in Porter Park. Roscoe’s Hometown Holiday added an outdoor Merry Market in 2024 for restaurants, bars and boutiques to set up shop before the annual tree lighting.
Written By
Emma Downes
Video By
Adam Barkley
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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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