$216,196Average Value$173Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
South Central Zion's place in Zion's planned city streets
Sitting just below downtown Zion and along Illinois Beach State Park’s shoreline and camping destinations, South Central Zion combines historic small-town charm, North Shore outdoor recreation and suburban atmosphere. “Zion is actually a planned city,” says Realtor Chris Varsek with Keller Williams North Shore West. “The original founders sent letters to European cities like Paris and Munich, asking, ‘If you were planning a city, what would you do?’.” Like many European cities, Zion forms around one focal point, and everything branches off from there. “Zion was planned around the church—it was smack dab in the middle of the city with all the other streets leading to it. Most of the streets still have a Biblical name,” Varsek says. While South Central Zion might be a few miles south of Christ Community Church, streets like Bethel Boulevard link the neighborhood with the heart of the city while maintaining a peaceful residential feel.
Lake Michigan is within a 10 minute drive of South Central Zion.
South Central Zion has a historic small-town charm.
1/2
Cape Cods, Nationals and ranch-style homes throughout South Central Zion
When heading down Bethel Boulevard from the center of Zion to South Central Zion, homes and residential streets branch off the main thoroughfare, opposing traffic split by a wide median lined with trees. Hedges and flowers sit up against Cape Cods, Nationals and ranch-style homes. Clusters of mature trees hang over the sidewalks, offering a break from the sun, but most streets have an open feel. “The way Zion is set up, there are main streets and then alleyways between them with trash cans and garages to help beautify the city,” Varsek says. Homes in South Central Zion typically price between $150,000 and $275,000, with newer homes listing higher. The Nationals were mostly built between 1900 and 1920, but those with recent renovations might sell higher than older properties.
A single story home with colorful decorations in Zion, IL.
Charming cottages and cape cods are a common sight in South Central Zion.
1/2
Exploring art and technology at Zion Central Middle School
For kindergarten through second grade, students can attend Lakeview Elementary School, which is still unrated on Niche and GreatSchools. After, students continue on to Elmwood Elementary School for third through fifth grade. Both it and Zion Central Middle School receive C-minus rankings from Niche. Students at the middle school can take exploratory classes for subjects like art, health and technology to learn more about these fields. Zion-Benton East High School earns a B from Niche.
Zion-Benton Township High School is the home of the Zee-Bees.
Zion-Benton Township High School focuses on student athletics featuring a large football field.
1/2
Swimming, boating and fishing at Illinois Beach State Park
Tucked between South Central Zion’s homes, residential parks like Sharon Park and Ophir Park offer small green spaces for locals to take a stroll along wooded pathways or play basketball with friends. Down Bethel Boulevard, residents can head into Zion’s center to Shiloh Park. Stretching over 132 acres with the church at its center, the park offers everything from the swan and duck pond with willows leaning over the water to its own golf course. “And they just got a million-dollar renovation,” Varsek says. “The city added pickleball courts and new tennis and basketball courts, too.” Along the eastern side of Zion is Illinois Beach State Park, running along 6.5 miles of Lake Michigan with sandy and rocky beaches. At North Point Marina, boatowners can launch to head out onto the waters.
Celebrating zinnia blooms and Monarch butterflies in Shiloh Park
“We have a nice bandshell that serves as the cultural center of the city,” Varsek says. “It has movie nights and weekly concerts in the summers.” The concert series features different musical styles each week, from blues to Mariachi. In August, the Zinnia and Monarch Festival celebrates the city’s blooms and butterflies at the Zion Park District Band Shell in Shiloh Park. Food trucks and artists set up on the grounds, and the event comes together to release monarchs into the park. “For many years, we’ve always had one of the largest Labor Day parades in the state of Illinois,” Varsek says, talking about the Jubilee Days Parade, which has been a Zion tradition for over 70 years.
Downtown Zion has colorful decorations and murals for residents to enjoy.
A pop of colors decorate the sidewalks of Zion, IL.
1/2
Historic downtown's coffee shops with a homey feel
Zion’s restaurants all sit along Sheridan Road, including through Zion’s historic downtown. Here, people can stop in It’s All Good Coffee and Espresso, a refurbished historic building turned cozy coffee shop. The inside gets plenty of natural light from the large windows and the small art and signs on the wall create a homey feel, but patrons can also take their drinks and baked goods to the patio to sit under the green umbrellas. To the south of the community, Emily’s Pancake House serves breakfast classics like pancakes and crepes alongside sandwiches and burgers for lunch. The environment is more minimalist, marked by the plain black awning outside only marked with the name, but the plates add a pop of color to the dining experience. The area’s supermarkets are also along Sheridan Road, with Aldi and Piggly Wiggly both within 1 mile of South Central Zion.
CJ's Coffee House is a great place to catch up with friends over coffee.
Healthyums is family owned restaurant serving healthy dishes and smoothies.
1/2
Taking the Metra from Zion to downtown Chicago
The center of Zion is just 1 mile away down Bethel Boulevard, but residents can also head up Sheridan Street to access the historic district’s shops and restaurants. Buses down Sheridan offer another option for those who want to forgo driving. Because this is such a busy thoroughfare with so many shops, residents living closer to Sheridan Road may hear traffic as it passes through. As part of the North Shore region of Chicagoland, South Central Zion is about equidistant from downtown Chicago and Milwaukee. Across the Illinois-Wisconsin border, Milwaukee is about 49 miles north, accessible along I-94, with Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport about 42.5 miles away. Chicago is about 53 miles south along I-94, with Chicago O’Hare International Airport about 40 miles away. The Zion Metra station also connects to downtown Chicago but only goes as far north as Kenosha, not connecting all the way to Milwaukee. Vista Medical Center – East is the nearest hospital, about 7 miles from South Central Zion.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Wolf,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Hermon Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Lake
Edina Park
Basketball
Playground
Shiloh Park
Baseball/Softball
Golf
Pool
Illinois Beach State Park
Bike Trails
Boating
Camping
Graham Park
Playground
Walking Paths
Joanna Park
Baseball/Softball
Camping
Tennis
Ophir Park
Transit
Airport
Chicago O'Hare International
55 min drive
Bus
Sheridan Rd & 31st St
Bus
Sheridan Rd & 33rd St
South Central Zion Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Central Zion, Zion sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in South Central Zion, Zion over the last 12 months is $237,000, up 35% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Gorgeous Newly Constructed BI Level/Raised Ranch with 5 spacious bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms & 2.5 car attached garage with amazing epoxy finished floors. Bright open kitchen and living room area with an abundance of natural lighting that flows in from huge new windows throughout. Kitchen has all NEW: stainless steel appliances, soft close cabinets, flooring, windows, countertops and lighting.
Welcome to 3101 Gilboa Ave, a charming 2 bedroom, 1 bath home nestled on a desirable corner lot in Zion. This move in ready property features a spacious living room, a functional kitchen and a separate laundry room for added convenience. Outside, enjoy the fully fenced yard, blacktop driveway, and oversized 2.5-car garage perfect for storage, hobbies, or extra parking. Whether you're a first time
Enjoy this large, corner, fenced yard! A privacy Fence credit is now available + a home warranty. See Resent Survey. Recently updated with fresh paint, new carpeting & epoxy flooring. This property features a good-sized living room, kitchen & dining room, & already comes partially furnished. The basement has an ideal storage room and a family room for entertaining, plus a dedicated laundry area.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RENT THIS NEWLY REMODELED 2BED/1BATH, RARELY AVAILABLE APARTMENT FOR RENT IN THIS ZION DOWNTOWN AREA BUILDING. NEWER KITCHEN CABINETS, NEW LUXURY FLOORS, NEW APPLIANCES, NEW BATHROOM VANITY, FRESHLY PAINTED, NEW BLINDS, CENTRAL AIR, HEAT. TENANT PAYS FOR THE ELECTRIC, HEAT. 1 PARKING SPACE IS INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY RENT. VERY CONVENIENT LOCATION, WALKING DISTANCE TO
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Wolf,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,159
Median Age
35
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$45,385
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$57,463
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.2%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
18.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.4%
% Population in Labor Force
56.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
34''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
23''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
44/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
48/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
