Wonder Center
Neighborhood in Wonder Lake, Illinois
McHenry County 60097
Premium lakeside homes and simple living inland
Most of Wonder Center’s single-family properties were built in the 1930s and 1940s. Locals live in Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and small houses with minimal traditional stylings. Larger properties with distinct styles, including some Tudor and Colonial Revival-influenced homes, sit on the west side of the neighborhood near the lakefront. Homes generally sell between $109,000 and $553,000. Lakefront access is handled through membership in the Wonder Center Property Owners Association, which maintains the neighborhood’s two parks.
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Piers and docks overlooking the waters of Wonder Lake
On the community’s south end, Wonder Lake Main Beach and Center Park is one of the village’s prime spaces to enjoy its namesake lake. Benches overlooking the water sit on short piers for catch-and-release fishing, and families can also visit for turns on the swing sets. For most of the year, access is limited to residents of the Wonder Center community, but the park opens to the public every Fourth of July for the annual fireworks show. Wonder Lake Marina sits a few steps away from the park, offering barge services, winter storage and care for boat owners.Less than a mile away from the Main Beach area, Wonder Center North Beach offers a quieter option for enjoying the water. For outdoor time on dry land, the Harrison Benwell Conservation Area is just east of the neighborhood. Trails bend through a mix of flatland and wooded areas in this natural area, providing an ideal spot for nature hikes and picnics during the warm season and cross-country skiing in the winter.
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Varied experiences at McHenry Community High School campuses
Just east of the neighborhood on McCullom Lake Road, Harrison School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school earns a C-minus grade on Niche. For the ninth grade year, students move on to the B-plus ranked McHenry Community High School - Freshman Campus. McHenry Community High School - Upper Campus handles classes from sophomore year to senior graduation. The A-minus ranked school offers 12 athletic teams and more than 50 extracurricular activities for students to participate in.
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Ski team shows and lively nights at the local bar
One of Wonder Lake’s go-to stops for nightlife is Horizontals Saloon. Dartboards, video slots and a jukebox set the tone as locals kick back to watch football with fresh draft pours. In the warm months, folks can also visit the patio for pickup volleyball games on the sand pit.Village residents also gather on the water on Friday nights in the summer to watch the Wonder Lake Water Show Ski Team, an acrobatic water skiing team celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2025. The team has won five national show ski championships and organizes a popular annual show in town for the Fourth of July alongside the fireworks.65 miles from Chicago
McCullom Lake Road connects Wonder Center to McHenry and the neighboring communities to the east, while Wonder Lake Road and Lake Shore Drive both facilitate local travel around the village. Residents are about 65 miles northwest of Chicago. Folks looking to save on gas can commute into the city through the Metra station in McHenry, about 6 miles southeast.For medical concerns, Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital is about 8 miles southeast of the neighborhood in McHenry. Residents traveling beyond the Chicago area can catch flights from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, about 45 miles southeast.Restaurants in Wonder Lake and shopping in McHenry
While shopping choices in Wonder Lake are minimal, Wonder Center isn’t far away from the options available locally. Dollar Tree and Dollar General stores are both situated along Hancock Drive/McCullom Lake Road. On the west side, Karen’s Treasures by the Lake has knickknacks for the home and a rotating inventory of seasonal décor, with selections like floral decorations for springtime and Halloween wreaths and light-up skulls for the fall.Wonder Lake Bicycle is a key stop in the village for cyclists. Operating out of a dedicated garage space, this bike shop offers repairs, accessories and a varied inventory of new and used bikes. Additional shopping options, such as Meijer, Walmart, Aldi and The Home Depot, are available about 5 miles southeast of the neighborhood in McHenry.
Local favorites for dining out include Busy Bee Restaurant, an all-day casual dining spot with a wide-ranging menu. Visitors can order classic diner fare in the morning with scrambled eggs, French toast and other breakfast platters; in the afternoon and evening, the kitchen serves burgers, Tex-Mex and Italian selections, among other options. “It’s certainly one of the more popular options in town,” Bremer says.
East End Pizza and Ice Cream is a go-to for delivery and take-out in town, serving up its namesake pies and milkshakes alongside soups, calzones and brisket-loaded baked potatoes.
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Written By
Tre Lyerly
Photography Contributed By
Brett Bulthuis
Video By
Benji Anklam
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Ty Barton
Ty Barton
RE/MAX Suburban
(224) 332-2952
78 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$225,000 Price
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Joan Burny
Joan Burny
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(224) 271-9502
85 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$150,000 Price
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Tanya Callaway
Tanya Callaway
Baird & Warner
(815) 923-5408
66 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$190,000 Price
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Kim Czaplicki
Kim Czaplicki
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Plaza
(224) 877-7477
81 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$190,000 Price
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Jennifer Beltrame
Jennifer Beltrame
Responds QuicklyHomeSmart Connect LLC
(855) 797-0258
174 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$150,000 Price
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Brenda Valdez
Brenda Valdez
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX American Dream
(224) 571-9741
87 Total Sales
1 in Wonder Center
$175,000 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 8th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Wonder Lake Main Beach and Center Park
Harrison Benwell Conservation Area
- Bike Trails
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Shore Hills Country Club Park and Boat Launch
Wonder Center North Beach
Indian Ridge Park & Boat Launch
Wooded Shores Beach
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Wonder Center | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Wonder Center Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Wonder Center, Wonder Lake sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Wonder Center, Wonder Lake over the last 12 months is $179,900, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$179,900
Median Sale Price
$179,900
Median Single Family Sale Price
$179,900
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
9
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-7%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$213
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
151
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
2022
Months of Supply
2.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,433
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,332
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,354
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,979
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
574
Median Age
41
Population under 18
21.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$56,538
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$72,967
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.7%
College Graduates
20.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.5%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.4%
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®
29
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
36
/ 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
Parker's Highlands
A small subdivision just east of Wonder Lake's shores
Shore Hills
Private amenities on Wonder Lake's eastern shores
White Oaks Bay
Waterfront and inland homes on private Wonder Lake near the yacht club
Hickory Falls
Homes by the lake accentuate a peaceful lifestyle northwest of Chicago
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