White Oaks Bay
Neighborhood in Wonder Lake, Illinois
McHenry County 60097
Lakefront homes and options farther inland in White Oaks Bay
Wonder Lake Drive and Lake Shore Drive connect at the southernmost tip of White Oaks Bay, while a network of narrow, winding drives create a web throughout. Some homes are surrounded by dense thickets and groves of coniferous trees, while others are out in the open on double lots for a boat house or fire pit. New builds popped up throughout the 20th century, so the neighborhood has renovated options from the 1960s through the present day: one-bed, one-bath cottages, ranch-style homes with attached garages and larger homes overlooking the water with tiered decks and personal boat docks. Prices range from $100,000 to $850,000 depending on size, private amenities and distance from the water. Despite its waterfront amenities and seclusion, checks and balances are placed on the number of people passing through each summer. “The area is no short-term rentals allowed, they just passed that,” Hines says. “Now, a 6- month lease is perfectly fine, but nothing less than 30 days—so no Airbnb.”
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Taking a spin on Wonder Lake from private docks or the marina
All homeowners in White Oaks Bay have lake rights to Wonder Lake, and most people with waterfront access head out onto the blue right from their backyards. “There’s a dock with slips for people who don’t have waterfront, but it has a two- to three- year waiting list,” says Larry Hines, Realtor at RE/MAX Horizons specializing in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. “It’s $25 dollars a year if you already have a spot.” White Oaks Park & Boat Launch is the largest of three communal open spaces in the neighborhood with a playground and community center near the slip. The others are smaller green spaces to walk the dog. Members can head onto Wonder Lake Yacht Club Island for picnics and birdwatching. Youth soccer, baseball and softball leagues also play at Jacobson Park directly south of the community.
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Woodstock-zoned schools for White Oaks Bay students
Kids in White Oaks Bay are served by Woodstock Community Unit School District No. 200, along with their peers in other west Wonder Lake subdivisions. Both Greenwood Elementary School and Northwood Middle School score a B-plus from Niche, while Woodstock North High School gets an A-minus. In addition to Advanced Placement courses, District 200 created the "12 in 200" program to encourage students to take at least 12 dual-credit courses before graduating.
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Yacht club membership and year-round events
White sails are often visible from the White Oaks Bay shoreline and the small yacht club island off its shore—especially on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when members race in 20-foot C Scow sailboats from one side of the lake to the other. The boats are lit up when they parade around the lake on Venetian Night, a part of Wonder Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration where residents can cheer from their backyards. Many members join the Social tier of the club to get involved in other year-around events; The Pontoon Progressive Dinner Party is hosted by lakefront homeowners, and participants hop in the pontoon boats to reach each course.Getting around Wonder Lake on rural lanes and reaching major thoroughfares
“Wonder Lake is far enough away to not really head to downtown Chicago that much, it’s so out there,” Hines says. Residents more often head to Woodstock or McHenry, each about 10 miles away--and while the Windy City is 69 miles away on Interstate 90 and 290, Metra stations save locals the drive from these two town centers on the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Illinois Route 120 runs between the two. It’s about a 49-mile trip to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The closest emergency room 12 miles away at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.Heading to Woodstock for the essentials
Wonder Lake Marina offers quick concessions at certain points in the year, and the lake is surrounded by a limited number of local businesses and watering holes, such as Horizontals and Alibi Pub & Grub. Both are located in Wonder Center, a small commercial zone on the other side of the lake that also includes the Wonder Lake Marina, a Dollar Tree, a BP gas station and East End Pizza and Ice Cream. For larger grocery runs, White Oaks Bay homeowners can head southwest to the Woodstock Jewel-Osco, Walmart, Blain's Farm & Fleet or other names. Quaint storefronts line the streets here, with the glitzy exterior of Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre at the center. Reaching McHenry means heading around the bend of the lake, and may mean pit stops at Rusty Nail Saloon for its big-screen TVs, outdoor patio and firepit and new neighbor as of 2019, Rusty Malts Ice Cream and Coffee. McHenry has more big-box shopping as well as beloved dining options like Bimbo’s Italian Restaurant.
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Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Joe Kirsch
Video By
Charles Kennedy
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Kevin Wilgenbusch
Kevin Wilgenbusch
RE/MAX Plaza
(224) 300-7406
52 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$185,000 Price
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Larry Hines
Larry Hines
RE/MAX Horizon
(224) 864-9728
86 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$210,000 Price
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Victoria Suthers
Victoria Suthers
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Success Realty
(224) 334-3914
81 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$108,000 Price
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Thomas Cardoni
TC
Thomas Cardoni
Responds QuicklyCardoni Real Estate Development LLC
(224) 864-9568
23 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$148,900 Price
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Sarah Leonard
Sarah Leonard
Legacy Properties, A Sarah Leonard Company, LLC
(224) 268-0025
2,804 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$165,000 Price
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Margaret Labus
Margaret Labus
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate
(262) 755-1434
16 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$520,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 8th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
White Oaks Bay Park
White Oaks Bay Nature Park
White Oaks Park and Boat Launch
Wonder Lake Yacht Club Island
Shore Hills Country Club Park and Boat Launch
Indian Ridge Park & Boat Launch
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | White Oaks Bay | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
White Oaks Bay Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in White Oaks Bay, Wonder Lake sell after 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in White Oaks Bay, Wonder Lake over the last 12 months is $274,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$324,900
Median Sale Price
$274,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$310,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
9
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
14%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$291
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
90
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1940
Months of Supply
2.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
554
Significantly below the national average
1,931
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
363
Median Age
45
Population under 18
20.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$50,937
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$70,981
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90.4%
College Graduates
33.9%
Advanced Degrees
11.1%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.1%
On par with the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
12°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
31''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
26
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
3
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Deep Spring Woods
Private, quiet waterfront community on Wonder Lake’s east side
Lookout Point
A quiet lakeside community with its own private beach
Wonder Center
An easygoing small community at the heart of Wonder Lake
Wonder Woods
Private Wonder Lake community with four parks and year-round boat amenities
Hickory Falls
Homes by the lake accentuate a peaceful lifestyle northwest of Chicago
Parker's Highlands
A small subdivision just east of Wonder Lake's shores
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