About 40 miles west of downtown Chicago, on the outer fringes of the western suburbs, the city of St. Charles is one of several communities along the Fox River. Often compared to the nearby suburbs of Batavia and Geneva, St. Charles is the largest with a population of 33,000 and has a well-regarded school system. “For folks who work in the city, they gladly trade the time it takes to drive to work with the school system in St. Charles,” says Jay Rodgers, a Rodgers Group at eXp Realty agent with 35 years of experience. “The travel times to downtown could be between 1 and 2 hours.”
Roughly 40 miles west of Chicago, St. Charles is known for food, fun, and entertainment.
Otter Creek is a part of the large St Charles area, and welcomes all newcomers.
Running through downtown St. Charles, Main St. is stocked with retail shopping options.
Students of Whispering Trail attend the top-rated St. Charles North High School.
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Community Unit School District 303 rated an A-plus
The St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 is rated an A-plus and consists of 11 elementary schools, two middle schools and St. Charles East and St. Charles North High Schools. Both high schools have at least a 95% average graduation rate. The Kensington School of St. Charles and The Goddard School are private preschool options, while St. Patrick Catholic School is connected to the Catholic church of the same name and serves students through eighth grade.
Ferson Creek Elementary is a public school serving students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Highly rated George Thompson Middle School maintains an overall A- from Niche.
Lincoln Elementary School is highly rated in the St. Charles school district.
Farmington-Fox River Valley High School feaa large football field for students to play on.
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Historic downtown St. Charles
On both sides of the Fox River, the downtown area features locally owned businesses, eateries and an active nightlife. The historic buildings include the Hotel Baker on the west side of the river on Main Street. It was built in 1928, and its picturesque location on the Fox River makes it a popular wedding reception venue. The Arcada Theatre, on the east side of the river, opened in 1926, where silent movies were shown and vaudeville acts performed. Today, it’s a popular music venue part of a larger complex with a dance club and a 1920s-style speakeasy. The St. Charles History Museum is also downtown and provides a guided walking tour explaining the downtown area's history.
Downtown St. Charles is situated along the Fox River.
The Arcada Theater on Main St holds a variety of concerts and shows.
Hotel Baker in Downtown St Charles is celebrated as the Crown Jewel of the Fox.
Residents love biking, walking, or running throughout Fox River Heights.
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Parks around St. Charles
Close to downtown, on the banks of the Fox River, is Pottawatomie Park, with walking trails that connect to the Fox River Bike Trail, a 40-mile path that follows the river from Aurora to Algonquin. Other amenities include athletic fields, a community center, and a 9-hole golf course at the northern end. The Otter Cove Aquatic Park has multiple slides, a lazy river and sand volleyball. The St. Charles Park District operates a working farm on the city's west side, where children can feed farm animals and learn how to milk a cow.
Pottowotamie Park
Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve is the perfect place for an afternoon bike ride.
Cool-off and have some fun at the family friendly Otter Cove Aquatic Center.
Residents of St. Charles passing by the Ferson Creek Park on Fox River.
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Housing east and west of the Fox River
The median single-family home price is around $510,000, higher than the national average and more expensive than Batavia and Geneva’s median price. Plenty of homes in the northern part of St. Charles are in the millions, especially in the Farmington-Fox River Valley. “You’ll hear differences between the west and east sides of the Fox River,” Rodgers says. “There are more homes on bigger lots and, generally, more elbow room than on the east side.” Closer to downtown, the housing stock becomes older, and the living space is smaller. Condos range from $230,000 to $400,000, and most townhouses are between $240,000 and $640,000, with a few just under $1 million.
According to FBI statistics, violent and property crimes are below the national and state averages, but the rates for both have increased slightly since 2021.
Homes in Farmington-Fox River Valley are built with a variety of materials.
Homes in Fox River Heights feature up to a half-acre of yard space.
Fox River Heights features many updated homes built in the late 20th century.
Upscale townhouses are available near the city center of Downtown St. Charles.
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St. Charles shopping options
Aside from downtown, the main retail and restaurant sections are on East Main Street, east of downtown and Randall Road, west of the river. Main Street Commons and Foxfield Commons Shopping Centers are shopping centers on the east side of downtown across the street from each other. “If you want a town feel and not the chains, you’ll shop downtown,” says Roger Erikson, a broker with the McKay Group at Coldwell Banker Realty. For a wider selection, Geneva Commons is on Randall Road, and Chicago Premium Outlets is about 9 miles south near Interstate 88, with over 160 stores.
Downtown St. Charles' Main St is lined with small shops, restaurants and multiple theaters.
Just 4 miles away, South Randall Road, features big box stores such as T.J. Maxx.
Geneva Commons is an open-air plaza with chain stores and family-friendly restaurants.
Jeans and a Cute Top Shop is a women's clothing store located near Northeast St. Charles.
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Car dependency in St. Charles
The Pace suburban bus system operates on Randall Road, which connects the west side of St. Charles to Elgin to the north and Aurora to the south. St. Charles is located about halfway between Interstate 90 to the north and I-88 to the south. I-90 leads to O’Hare International Airport, which is 34 miles to the northeast. The DuPage Airport is a general aviation facility in nearby West Chicago. The nearest Metra commuter rail station is in Geneva, 3 miles south. Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital is the closest medical center in nearby Geneva.
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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.
