The village of Shorewood is where homeowners can find a little bit more breathing room while staying in metro Chicago. Forty-five miles southwest of the Windy City, the community of 18,000 residents features custom-built houses and a sprawling network of parks. The typical resident is a middle-aged homeowner, and the biggest draws to the community are its peaceful atmosphere and strong public schools. Shorewood earns a Niche grade of A-minus. The high esteem in which Shorewood is held is nothing new, says RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals Broker Amy Smith, a native of nearby Joliet who has lived in Shorewood since 1999. “Even when I was growing up, Shorewood had a great reputation.”
Shorewood is a quiet suburb outside of Chicago.
Shorewood is located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.
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Ice skating in the winter, kayaking in the summer
Shorewood’s 200-plus acres of parks is a standout feature of the village, Smith says. Due to its open landscape, Cene’s Four Seasons Park acts as a natural hosting ground for activities, whether they’re youth sports games or community celebrations. The winter brings below-freezing temperatures and snowfall, but that doesn’t render the park useless, Smith explains. “The park has an ice-skating rink they do in the winter, and kids go sledding on the park’s big hill.” Locals have plenty of other ways to enjoy the outdoors, from games of tennis at their subdivisions’ courts to kayaking in the DuPage River. An 18-hole disc golf course on the bank of the river brings folks to the community, Smith adds. “I just sold a house in Chicago to a gentleman who’s from Oklahoma. One thing he comes to Shorewood for is the disc golf course. People have traveled from the city just for that.”
Residents of Shorewood have no shortage of places to enjoy a nature hike.
With the DuPage River slicing through Shorewood, there is always a fun aquatic activity going on
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Custom homes and condos near the DuPage River
Homes occupy most of Shorewood’s landscape, but they’re rarely masses of cookie-cutter houses. Instead, custom homes have been common since the ‘90s, Smith says. This has created a variety of distinct designs along Shorewood’s wide residential streets, with influences from colonial to Tudor. Homebuyers can choose from simpler ranch homes and condos as well. Depending on the subdivision, homeowners may pass through a gate when entering or leaving. Likewise, they may have to pay homeowners association dues. Condos typically sell between the low and mid-$200,000s. Single-family house prices start in the low $200,000s for three-bedroom ranch homes, climbing past $1.8 million for a six-bedroom house in the high-end Lake Forrest subdivision. Federally designated flood zones extend into a few residential areas around the DuPage River, so homebuyers may need to get flood insurance for their properties.
High-end homes can be found along the DuPage River in Shorewood.
Some Shorewood neighborhoods feature Tudor-style homes.
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Underwater robotics at Minooka Community High
Students attending public schools take classes at four different campuses between kindergarten and 12th grade. Kids can start at Shorewood Elementary, graded a B-plus by Niche. After fourth grade, they advance to B-minus-rated William B. Orenic Intermediate School before progressing to Troy Middle School, graded an A-minus. Teens at A-graded Minooka Community High School have an extensive list of extracurriculars to choose from, including climbing club and underwater robotics.
Minooka Community High School offers a comprehensive athletic program for students.
Troy Middle School provides a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for students.
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Shorewood celebrates Crossroads Fest
Every August the village celebrates Crossroads Fest, a weekend of carnival rides, live music and food trucks capped off by a parade. The celebration started in the ‘70s and has persisted for nearly 50 years. Meanwhile, Towne Center Park hosts more casual events, such as outdoor movie screenings in the summer.
Breakfast crowds at Crispy Waffle
Shorewood’s quaint size hasn’t stopped a solid selection of local restaurants from popping up. Families pack into Crispy Waffle for breakfast service, while adults often hang out with specialty cocktails at Mauve Nosh & Libations. Those who enjoy pour-over coffee, competitive board games or both can gather at Critical Grind Board Game Cafe. Residents can get their shopping done along Illinois Route 50 or West Jefferson Street. Along those roadways are shopping spots such as Mariano’s supermarket, The Home Depot, Marshalls and more. More stores await in the larger city of Plainfield, less than 10 miles from Shorewood.
Shorewood residents can enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine at Los Burritos Ricos.
Maciano's Pizza and Pastaria is a popular dinner hotspot for Shorewood locals.
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Getting around the Chicago metro
Locals rely on cars to get around the village. Shorewood is close to Interstate 55 and Interstate 80, which transport drivers throughout the Chicago metro area. The average commute to work takes 32 minutes, slightly longer than the state average of 28 minutes. Commuters who want to take a train to Chicago will need to hop at the station in Joliet, 7 miles from Shorewood. When it’s time to catch a flight, the best options are Chicago Midway International Airport, 35 miles away, and O’Hare International Airport, 45 miles away.
I-55 gives Shorewood residents quick access to Chicago and other surrounding cities.
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