$251,003Average Value$128Average Price per Sq Ft20Homes For Sale
A resilient community in Tazewell County
Deep in the farmlands of Tazewell County, Washington, Illinois, is the last city along U.S. Route 24 before the state becomes increasingly rural. This community is 11 miles east of Peoria and is defined by its small-town, agricultural feel. Washington is a resilient community of about 16,000 residents who have worked to rebuild the city in the aftermath of a destructive 2013 tornado. They’re grounded by Thursday night markets on Washington Square, Friday night football games and Sunday morning church services. “This is a great, tight-knit community with friendly people and plenty of things to do,” says Chief of Police Mike McCoy. “It’s a conservative, churchgoing community with good hometown camaraderie. People support the town and the things going on.”
Washington is located approximately 3 miles west of Interstate 74 and 3 miles north of I-474.
Washington's motto is "Your Pathway To Discovery; Enjoyment And Knowledge."
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An abundance of land in Washington
Washington's housing options include bungalows, ranch-style and new traditional homes with a median price of $225,000, which is nearly $180,000 below the national median. Due to the area’s rural nature and long-lasting damage from a 2013 tornado, the majority of current listings are for land. “The problem is there are very few homes for sale in Washington,” McCoy says. “When we moved here [in 2017], it was hard. We bought a house that had just been built. A guy bought a lot and just built it. There are some empty lots, but there aren’t very many houses for sale.” He notes that demand is high and adds that buyers can’t go wrong when picking a location. “There’s a list of people who want to move here,” he says. “We get calls all the time from people who want to move here and who want to know which part of town to live in. It’s not like the bigger cities like Chicago where there are sections of town, you’d rather not live in. You can live anywhere here.”
Modern traditional homes are common throughout Washington.
Ranch style homes from the late 20th century can be seen frequently in Washington.
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Washington Park District
The Washington Park District contains 260 acres of parkland, 11 miles of recreational trails and nearly 2 miles of natural trails. The city’s Recreation Facility offers indoor programming, while nearby Washington Park and Oak Ridge Park offer outdoor programming. Washington Park has a pool, and Meadow Valley Park has an off-leash dog park.
Washington features many popular running trails throughout Washington Park.
Residents of Washington will love the playground at Oakridge Park.
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The top public high school in Tazewell County
Three elementary and middle school districts serve Washington students: Washington School District 50, Central School District 51 and Washington School District 52. Washington District 50 gets a C-minus rating from Niche, and both Central School District 51 and Washington School District 52 get A-minuses. The city’s one private school, St. Patrick School, is a Catholic school for preschoolers through eighth grade students run by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. All public-school students attend Washington Community High School, which gets an A-minus score and also ranks as the top public high school in Tazewell County on Niche.
Students are the highest priority at Lincoln Grade School.
Washington Community High School offers plenty of AP and Honors courses.
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Washington Square taverns and a new Tangled Roots Brewery
“We have a lot of good bars,” McCoy says. “Most of them are not the great big taverns – they’re little homemade taverns, which makes them nice. You meet there, and nobody bothers you and you have a good time.” He recommends Parish’s Pub and W Down Under on Washington Square, the latter of which “has had a revitalization since they opened with new owners." McCoy also notes an upcoming addition, “They’re [also] building a new Tangled Roots Brewery in the square with rooftop seating. When it gets done in the spring, it’ll be a real hotspot,” he says. For dinner, he recommends Bernardi’s, a family-owned Italian restaurant that’s been in Illinois since 1933 and that opened a Washington location in 2001.
Lindy's Downtown Market was founded in October 1958 by Clarence ''Lindy'' Linsley.
Parish's Pub in Washington features over 20 beers on tap.
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A 2013 tornado and low crime rates for the Washington Police Department in 2024
Washington experiences snowy winters and humid summers. “It’s sort of funny: the river makes a big difference in the weather,” McCoy says. “It can snow in Peoria, and we don’t get any here, or vice versa. It’s a matter of whether the weather comes up from the south or the north, and it depends on how it hits the river.” In 2013, a tornado entered Washington from East Peoria, destroying an estimated 1,500 homes and killing three people. In the 10 years following, most of the neighborhoods have been rebuilt.
McCoy notes that crime rates have been lowering in Washington. “From 2023 to 2024, crime was down in 10 or 12 categories,” he says. “Accidents were down; criminal damage was down. We wrote less tickets; we wrote less warnings. People are paying attention to our distracted driving campaign.”
U.S. Route 24, CityLink’s Washington CityLift Service and the Peoria International Airport
U.S. Route 24 passes through Washington and connects it to Peoria, 11 miles east. “We just put in two new roads,” McCoy says. “One that would be Dallas extended and the other connects to Freedom Parkway and attaches lanes on the road to Menard’s and Walmart.” Residents with mobility challenges may qualify for CityLink’s Washington CityLift Service, which provides $2 rides within the Washington urban map area. Washington’s closest airport is the Peoria International Airport, 20 miles west, which offers routes to 13 destinations on three different airlines.
Good Neighbor Days and Thursday nights on Washington Square
Washington kicks off the summer each year with its Good Neighbor Days celebration, a weekend-long festival with carnival rides, a car show, fireworks and a 5K. During the summer months on Thursday evenings, Washington Specialty Shops hosts its Rove and Ramble on Washington Square events. During Rove and Ramble, local vendors set up to sell their wares, while live music plays and community members hang out, shop or eat. “Thursday nights are a big deal in the square,” McCoy says. The city has annual parades of the high school’s homecoming and at Christmas too. “Both of those get a lot of attention,” McCoy says.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
JJ Starr
Video By
Matt Pangman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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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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On average, homes in Washington, IL sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Washington, IL over the last 12 months is $230,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Come see this charming ranch home, all amenities on one level. Fresh paint and carpet throughout, bathroom recently updated with new flooring, vanity and lighting. Updated windows throughout the home. All appliances and window air unit to stay. Close to shopping and recreation. Move in ready! Has two bedrooms, one bath and large extra room that could be used as you’d like. Roof approximately
Coming Soon! Welcome to this beautifully maintained 5 BR 3.5 BA home located in the highly sought after Oak Creek Sub. in Washington & within the acclaimed Central School District! This one-owner gem offers over 3300 finished sq ft of thoughtfully designed living space. One of the true highlights is the spacious 19 x 15 sunroom boasting walls of Pella windows, gorgeous wood flrs & 10' finished
Welcome to 1936 Canterbury Drive! Enjoy the convenience of low-maintenance living in this 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo conveniently located in the highly rated Central school district. This spacious two-story layout provides a comfortable flow, with plenty of natural light and storage. Both bathrooms have been fully updated with an option for laundry on the main level. Upstairs you'll find two
If country-like living is your place to be...check out this 5 BR/3BA brick front split foyer sitting on 2.19 acres * the 30 x 40 Morton building is half for vehicle/boat/camper storage and the other half is insulated, heated or cooled for most any use you could think of * The above ground pool has not been opened this year and will remain as is * LL work shop has ductwork, but it not insulated
Stunning 6 bedroom, 5 full bath home in a desirable Washington subdivision in Lincoln School District! Built in 2016, this home has a fabulous layout w/ a main floor office (potential 7th BR) & main floor laundry, open concept kitchen & living room, plus formal & informal dining spaces. Gorgeous kitchen has quartz countertops, soft-close drawers, large island and two pantries. Two story foyer
Newly renovated Apartment buildings in Washington Illinois. The units are spacious, two bedroom, two bath with lots of living space! Walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Full kitchen furnished with stainless steel appliances. Each unit also has a washer and dryer. All units have a patio or balcony. We are pet friendly with a pet deposit! Garbage, snow removal, and lawn maintenance are
Great secluded location in East Peoria. All one level, on street parking, freshly painted interior, luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout. Tenant pays Ameren only. No pets.
The Mallard Way Rental Community, made up of Camden Court and Mallard Lakes Apartments, features 68 units with a mix of 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom options. These newer apartments feature spacious room sizes, washer and dryers in each unit, and generous storage spaces. Our neighborhood is close to parks, shopping, entertainment, and just minutes from Peoria. Call us today to schedule your
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