Wheaton's railroad history to today's historic downtown
The Village of Wheaton highlights Chicagoland’s history. The Wheaton brothers arrived here from Connecticut in 1837, but the town didn’t really get its name until the brothers gave the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad free right of way through the town in 1848. To thank them, the company named the depot Wheaton after the brothers, and it was incorporated officially as a village in 1859. Today, downtown Wheaton still maintains its historic feel, supported by Wheaton College’s historic buildings right in the center of the village. Home to about 54,000 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, people put down roots in Wheaton. “It’s a special community. You have people who grew up here and tend to stay,” says broker Michael Thorton with Keller Williams Premiere Properties. “But you also have people who moved away because of COVID or to warmer places, and then they come back because they miss it.”
Wheaton maintains its historic feel, supported by Wheaton College’s historic buildings.
Downtown Wheaton has a historic charm with a bustling commercial district.
"Welcome to Wheaton" hand-made sign welcomes all to this charming village.
The DuPage County Historical Museum in Downtown Wheaton houses a large scale train model.
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Strolling through downtown Wheaton and commercial shopping centers
Historic brick Italianate buildings line Front and Main streets in downtown Wheaton. Residents can stroll down the sidewalks to window shop the boutiques or pick up a drink from the coffee shops. Since 2018, the city has been working to improve the pedestrian experience in downtown Wheaton by widening sidewalks, improving the lighting and updating signage. Thorton also mentions that COVID brought more outdoor dining to downtown — the city installed a tent on Hale Street to expand outdoor dining during the pandemic. Almost 5 years later, the tents remain up and encourage patrons to enjoy al fresco lunches and dinners. Down Naperville Road on the southern side of the village, Rice Lake Square and Danada Square West straddle the thoroughfare, both offering a selection of supermarkets, box stores and chain restaurants.
Learn about the local history at the DuPage County Historical Museum in Downtown Wheaton
In downtown Wheaton, visitors can shop for ethically sourced decor from Amante Marketplace.
The Hen House is a busy brunch spot on Wheaton's Campus Avenue.
Whole Foods Market is located in the Danada Square East Shopping Center of Wheaton, IL.
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Annual events in the park and the DuPage County Fair
“Whether it's the park district or the city of Wheaton, they put on all kinds of events for the community,” Thorton says. “There are wine tastings downtown and a kid's trick or treat where all the businesses hand out candy. That’s where it gets its small-town feel, even if it's still growing.” In June in Memorial Park, Cream of Wheaton brings the best of the village’s artisans and vendors together for a craft fair and carnival, with live music on the lawn. The DuPage County Fairgrounds has hosted the county fair for over 180 years in Wheaton, drawing people every July for the live music, animal shows and competitions.
Wheaton's Cantigny Park hosts a Family Night of Trick-or-Treating annually from 5:30-7:30pm.
Art lovers enjoy an arts & crafts fair at Cream of Wheaton.
Shakespeare in the Park is produced, in part, by the Wheaton College Arena Theater.
Vintage Fest attendees look through printed antique posters at The DuPage County Fairground.
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Wheaton College's music programs and football games
Community Unit School District 200’s boundaries span almost all of Wheaton, serving most of the village’s kindergarten through twelfth grade students. Niche awards the district an A-plus, listing it as the 13th-best school district for athletes. A-minus rated Community Consolidated School District 89 and A-plus rated Glenbard Township High School District 87 serve small corners of Wheaton not included in District 200’s boundaries.
Just steps from downtown Wheaton, Wheaton College’s campus has been here for over 150 years. The private Christian liberal arts school enrolls about 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students. Many students come for the Conservatory of Music. “They have a performing arts center where different local dance troupes do performances,” Thorton says. “Wheaton College has a pretty good football program and stadium — I can hear football games from my house.” The City of Weaton’s 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report lists both the college and the school district as two major employers for the village, with the 2022 Census citing that 25% of residents work in education or healthcare.
The historic Blanchard Hall sits at the center of Wheaton College's main campus.
Wheaton North High School is home of the Falcons.
Whittier Elementary School is a public school attended by students of Wheaton.
College of DuPage offers a number of associate degree & certificate programs in Wheaton, IL.
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Colonial Revivals, townhomes and historic houses across Wheaton
While downtown features Wheaton’s remaining historic buildings, most of the homes across the various subdivisions were built as early as the 1950s. Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes are popular here, though condos and townhomes are also common, found in communities like Adare Farms and Briarcliffe. Wheaton’s median home price is $440,000, sitting higher than the medians for Chicago and the rest of the country. On the southwest side of the village, Cantigny’s Victorian homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and back up to golf courses. However, these homes often sell much higher than the village median, with prices ranging from $950,000 to $1.8 million.
Violent crimes and property crime have increased over the past 10 years in Wheaton, with 1,231 instances reported in 2020, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. However, Wheaton’s property and violent crime rates are both lower than the national averages.
New traditional colonial-style homes can be found in Wheaton.
Townhomes are a popular home style in Wheaton, IL.
Stunning large historic homes dot the landscape of Downtown Wheaton.
Wheaton residents meticulously maintain their landscaping.
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Wheaton's two pools on opposite sides of the village
Wheaton Park District manages 829 acres of parks and recreational spaces, including Northside Park’s 68 acres. Kids come here to play on the playground and residents can play on the various athletic amenities. In the winter, there’s an outdoor ice-skating rink with a warming house when it gets too cold. “Wheaton actually has two pools. Northside Park has a pool where you go and swim,” Thorton says. “And in the south, Rice Pool is insane — it has a splash pad and slides. It feels like a water park.” Right in the center of Wheaton, Memorial Park’s band shell and green hosts village events and local concerts.
Northside Park features 68 acres of green space and sports and recreation facilities.
Northside Park residents enjoying a game of volleyball.
Memorial park is packed to capacity for the annual Shakespeare in the Park live performances.
Cantigny Park's gardens are perfect for nature lovers in Wheaton.
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Commuting to downtown Chicago or working close to home
Pace buses run along major thoroughfares like Roosevelt Road and Main Street, connecting residents with downtown Wheaton and its shopping centers. However, the 2022 Census lists that about 65% of Wheaton residents drive alone to work, but the number of schools and the proximity to hospitals like Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital mean residents working in education and healthcare are close to work. Downtown Chicago is about 29 miles away. Wheaton has two Metra stations on the UP-W line — the Wheaton station downtown and the College Avenue closer to campus. Interstate 88 is just to the south, connecting commuters to downtown Chicago, while Interstate 355 to the east links people with Chicago O’Hare International Airport, about 21 miles away. Because Chicagoland can get snowy in the winter, Wheaton deploys its plows once two inches of snow has accumulated.
Pace bus stops are available right outside the Wheaton Metra station.
Wheaton residents commute to Chicago from Wheaton's College Ave. Metra Station.
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is less than two miles from Northside-Wheaton.
Interstate 355 links Wheaton residents with Chicago's O’Hare International Airport.
Since beginning her real estate career in 2001, Managing Broker Erica Cuneen has been a top-producing agent and consistently sells at the multi-million dollar level. With primary markets in Chicago, Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, Erica has experience with varied markets and a diverse group of clients. Above all, Erica recognizes the timeless value of finding the ideal home and community for each of her clients. Exceptional service and the desire to exceed clients’ expectations is Erica’s hallmark.
Erica strives to ensure her clients find the home they want and invest in properties that meet their business needs. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she can help you realize the value of your property and handle transactions smoothly. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, educator of deaf students in Ecuador, and bilingual (Spanish) educator in Chicago public schools, Erica appreciates the value of community. In today’s active market, sellers need to set themselves apart. As an environmentally conscious professional, Erica is a certified EcoBroker. Her ability to highlight green features puts sellers’ property at the forefront, and buyers benefit from the energy savings and peace of mind.
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