The birthplace and centerpiece of the Round Lake Area
Round Lake is one of four villages in north-central Lake County, Illinois, highlighting Round Lake in its name. After its founding as an ice-cutting industry town near the southwest shore of its namesake lake in 1909, Round Lake’s leaders weren’t particularly aggressive about annexing additional land. As a result, neighboring communities Round Lake Park, Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Heights were all incorporated separately by the middle of the 20th century. So, while the communities are interconnected in many ways, including their library and school districts, they have separate municipal governments and distinctive identities. With just under 18,500 residents, the Village of Round Lake is the second-largest Round Lake Area community.
Round Lake is the perfect spot to enjoy the sun, go fishing or relax on the beach.
Living in Round Lake is an affordable option with average listing prices at $275,000.
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Home values more affordable than Lake County median
With a median home value of around $280,000, Round Lake has the highest median home value of the Round Lake Area communities. That figure is well below the national median value and more than $75,000 below the Lake County median. Real estate agent Ivonne Payes of Payes Homes LLC credits a recent uptick in renovations with a rise in local home values. “People here care about their community and want to see it succeed,” Payes says. “Residents who grew up here have been reinvesting in the community in recent years by buying and renovating some of the more run-down homes in the area.”
A lakefront escape home, complete with boat dock, sits next to Round Lake.
Large yards, spacious garages and two-story houses are options in beautiful Round Lake.
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Nippersink Forest Preserve, Chain O'Lakes provide outdoor recreation
Lake access in the Village of Round Lake is limited to private property along the lakefront. Public access is only available in Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Park. Nonetheless, Round Lake residents have ample opportunity to hit the water thanks to the nearby Chain O’Lakes, a system of 15 connected lakes encompassing 7,100 acres of water. Long Lake, just north of the Village of Round Lake, is the southernmost lake in The Chain.
Nippersink Forest Preserve is in the center of the community and is home to 329 acres of century-old oak woodlands, lakes and marshes. The forest preserve features 3 miles of trails, picnic shelters and fishing piers.
“Round Lake is a great place to raise a family,” Payes says. “People have room to enjoy nature with the lakes and natural areas.”
Indoor recreation is available at the Robert W. Rolek Community Center, which also serves as a senior center and child development center.
Nippersink Forest Preserve is home to 329 acres of century-old oak woodlands, lakes and marshes.
Nippersink Forest Preserve joins the public sidewalk, with access to surrounding communities.
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Round Lake High School serves all four Round Lake Area communities
Round Lake students attend Village Elementary School and Magee Middle School, both of which receive C-ratings on Niche. All Round Lake Area students attend Round Lake High School, which receives a B-minus rating. High school juniors and seniors can participate in the Business Incubator Program, where entrepreneurs mentor them to develop their own product or service.
College of Lake County, a two-year community college, is 5 miles away in Grayslake.
Village Elementary School offers students extra-curricular activities such as soccer & chorus.
Round Lake High School scores a Niche grade of a B in college prep and clubs/activities.
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Close to Lake County Fairgrounds
The village hosts a handful of annual events, including a summer concert series on the grounds of Rolek Community Center. In late July, the Round Lake Car Show brings dozens of classic cars to downtown Round Lake. The downtown Christmas tree is lit on the first Friday in December.
The Lake County Fairgrounds are about 5 miles southeast of Round Lake. The Fair is held annually in late July, and the Event Center hosts events throughout the year, including the Northern Illinois Boat Show.
Metra line connects to Chicago — and Round Lake's past
Location was crucial to the Village of Round Lake’s founding. The Milwaukee Road rail line, which connected Chicago to Janesville, Wisconsin, was built through the area in the 1890s. This allowed ice to be harvested from Round Lake and used to refrigerate the rail cars that Armour and Company used to transport meat across the country from the Chicago Stockyards. Advances in refrigeration made all that unnecessary, but today, the same rail line takes Metra commuters on a 90-minute trip to Chicago Union Station. Chicago O'Hare Airport is about 35 miles south of Round Lake, and Milwaukee Mitchell Airport is 50 miles to the northeast. Pace Bus Route 570, which connects Fox Lake to the College of Lake County, has multiple stops in Round Lake.
Shopping and dining are largely located in neighboring towns
Shopping and dining are limited in Round Lake, with most nearby shops and restaurants located in neighboring Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake. However, there are some options available in Round Lake’s one-block downtown, including Twisted Burger and La Luz Bakery Panderia y Pasteleria.
Delicious food, from burgers to salads, is available in the highly regarded Twisted Burger.
A variety of international products line the shelves of Lomeli's International Supermarket.
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Pleasant summers make up for frigid winters
As its ice-making history indicates, Round Lake can experience frigid winter conditions. Summers, on the other hand, are often pleasant, with an average daily temperature near 70 degrees between June and August.
Round Lake’s violent and property crime rates were around half of the national average in 2023.
On average, homes in Round Lake, IL sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Round Lake, IL over the last 12 months is $285,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
