$281,549Average Value$147Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Waterman combines its agricultural roots with a slow pace of life
Waterman is a village of about 1,500 people, offering quiet living in rural Northern Illinois. “People choose to live here because it’s small and feels like Mayberry,” says Linda Swenson, a Realtor with Century 21 Circle and resident since 1969. Following the railroad's arrival in the late 19th century, the area quickly became an agricultural hub. Generations later, crop fields still frame the community, Bayer Crop Science’s seed corn processing plant is the largest employer and farmers gather to show off their antique tractors at one of the area's most anticipated annual events.
Harvest time brings vibrant cornfields to Waterman’s rural landscape.
The Sycamore Pumpkin Run hosts a popular 10K race each fall near Waterman.
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Recreation includes hiking, fishing and the local sportsmen's club
Lions Community Park is the village’s main recreation area, with a playground, athletic facilities and a walking trail. Shabbona Lake State Park is just west, with a public boat launch to drop in for a day of fishing. The park runs an on-site store offering bait, tackle and watercraft rentals. A series of trails circles the lake, which become snowmobile and cross-country skiing routes in the winter. The adjacent Indian Oaks Country Club features a nine-hole course open to the public. Aurora Sportsmen’s Club comprises a series of gun and archery ranges. “The sportsmen’s club is huge among locals and popular with the greater area in general,” Swenson says. The site has several stocked ponds and runs various programs for all ages.
Golfers enjoy the nine-hole course at Indian Oaks Country Club west of Waterman.
Outdoor recreation thrives at Shabbona Lake State Park’s 318-acre lake.
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Homes offer a lower pricepoint than nearby Hinckley
Housing in Waterman ranges from early 1900s cottages and National Folk-style homes to midcentury ranch styles. Homebuyers will also find a selection of modern ranch and New Traditional styles built over the last 25 years, specifically within the Green Ridge subdivision. Mature trees shade the village’s central portion, where homes sit close together on grid-like streets. In the more rural outskirts, corn and soybean fields frame spaced-out homes, which typically sit on more significant acreage and often feature an adjoining barn or silo. Those living close to the railroad do experience occasional noise coming from passing freight trains. “It may be an annoyance for new residents, but it fades into the background for those of us who have lived here for some time,” Swenson says. The median sales price in Waterman is $280,000, which falls below Hinckley’s median of $358,000. “The farther west a community is from Aurora, the lower the home costs tend to be,” Swenson says. The community also has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Mature trees frame a calm block of homes in Waterman’s established community.
Contemporary home with garage anchors a quiet street in Waterman.
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Waterman’s big summer event blends tradition and entertainment
Waterman Lions Summerfest and Antique Tractor and Truck Show bring the community together in mid-July. “It’s a big deal for the community,” Swenson says. “Farmers from the local area and all over bring their antique tractors into town to show off.” Craft and antique vendors fill Lions Community Park for the annual tradition, where attendees queue for train rides and set up chairs to enjoy live music and a grand fireworks show.
Waterman has limited retail, but bix-box stores are close by
Waterman is home to a few locally owned eateries. Pub West is a favorite for grabbing a drink and serves typical pub-style food. Wild Carrot Cooking Company is a relatively new food truck on Lincoln Highway that sells seasonal dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Dollar General covers essentials close to home, but residents must head to surrounding communities for most of their shopping needs. Hinkley Fresh Market is 5 miles east, and Jewel-Osco in DeKalb, 11 miles north, offers a more robust grocery selection. The latter has several big-box stores like Target and Kohl's.
Locals gather at Pub West for drinks and pub-style meals in Waterman.
Hinckley Fresh Market offers groceries just five miles east of Waterman.
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Indian Creek High School students can enroll in dual credit courses
Indian Creek Elementary School earns an A-minus from Niche. Indian Creek Middle School and Indian Creek High School both earn a B-minus. The high school offers dual credit opportunities in partnership with nearby Kishwaukee College, with courses including Floral Design and Pre-Calculus.
Indian Creek Elementary offers small class sizes with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio.
Waterman-area students attend Indian Creek High School for classes and sports.
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State Route 23 and U.S. Route 30 connect Waterman to nearby cities
State Route 23 and U.S. Route 30 are the area’s main thoroughfares. The latter provides access to Aurora 25 miles east, and Interstate 88, which leads into Chicago 63 miles out in the same direction. Chicago Rockford International Airport is some 50 miles north, and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital is in Sandwich, 16 miles southeast.
Aurora, 24 miles from Waterman, ranks as Illinois’s second-largest city with 180,500 people.
Critical access care is available at Valley West Hospital, 16 miles south in Sandwich.
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Written By
Matthew Simmons
Photography Contributed By
Mark Tilley
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Katherine Gannon,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Waterman, IL sell after 22 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Waterman, IL over the last 12 months is $267,500, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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