South of Chicago, Crete is a village where the quiet of suburbia contrasts with the hubbub of the big city 35 miles to the north. Much of Crete’s charm comes from its Main Street, where residents shop at local boutiques, play trivia games at breweries and catch live music on weekends. “A big appeal of Crete is the quaint downtown area and all of the interesting shops,” says resident and Realtor Greta McKenna. “And the town features tons of beautiful, wooded areas and open prairie lands.” Single-family homes are available in various architectural styles, from Cape Cods and Foursquares to ranch- and new traditional-style homes. The village typically has lots for sale, making it a desirable spot for those looking to build their dream home.
A Brick Foursquare Style House Located Just Outside of Downtown Crete
Newer modern traditional style houses are also a common site in Crete.
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Historic, ranch- and New Traditional-style homes
Crete was founded in 1836 and has been continuously developed since, so housing comes in a range of ages and architectural styles. Early 20th-century Cape Cods and American Foursquares include renovations. Mid-century ranch-style homes are common, with many also undergoing renovations for practical and stylistic purposes, and houses built in the 1990s to present are typically New Traditional-style. Neighborhood streets in Crete get denser toward the center of the village, where big shady trees cover sidewalk-lined streets, and on the outskirts, homes sit farther apart on larger lots. Crete still has plenty of undeveloped land, so lots are generally available. The village's overall median home price is $275,000, below the Chicagoland median of $360,000 and the national median. To the east, in the Faithorn neighborhood, the median price rises to $450,000, with open spaces and farmland common. In Goodenow , to the south, home prices balance at $335,000 -- half sell for more, half for less -- in largely rural surroundings.
Dominant industries include health care and social assistance, educational services, and retail trade.
A brick foursquare style house located just outside of downtown Crete.
Brick style rancher homes with plenty of yard space and an attached garage are common in Crete.
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Neighborhood parks and nearby golf courses
Martin Piepenbrink Memorial Park and Gordon Park provide community playgrounds, while Heritage Park and the Willard Wood Park Center offer more expansive facilities. Heritage Park has baseball fields and a skate park, and Willard Wood Park Center has a swimming pool and rental event space. The center also offers youth karate, art and guitar classes and an adult pickleball league.
Golfers can head to Lincoln Oaks Golf Course or Deer Creek Golf Course, both of which are semi-private facilities.
Martin Piepenbrink Park was dedicated in 2004.
Deer Creek Golf Club has a very nice golf course and is near the Crete area.
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Community events at the Crete Public Library and Crete Park District
Between the Crete Public Library District and the Crete Park District, Crete offers a variety of events and programming. At the Crete Public Library, residents can join book clubs, take technology classes, attend movie nights and listen to lectures by guest speakers. The Crete Park District hosts annual community events, such as an Earth Day village cleanup and an Easter egg hunt. To catch shows from some of the biggest names in music, residents head 14 miles northwest to Tinley Park’s Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre.
Crete F Men Special Needs Easter event in Crete was attended by many of the residents.
Crete residents love going to the public library for the best books around.
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Shopping and dining along Main Street
Restaurants line Main Street, which runs through the center of the community. Pizza joints, sports bars and Mexican restaurants dot the major thoroughfare. Smokey Jo’s is known for its barbecue .At Evil Horse Brewing Company, residents enjoy craft beers at events like bingo, trivia nights and live music performances. Downtown has boutiques, florists and hobby stores. For most shopping, locals will have to head north to U.S. Route 30, which features grocery stores, such as Walt's, and big box retailers.
Smokey Jo's frequently hosts live entertainment for Crete's residents to enjoy.
Smokey Jo's Scratch Kitchen & Ale House in Crete, IL serves delicious food & great live music.
Walt's Supermarket in Crete, IL carries a wide variety of fresh fruits & vegetables.
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Crete-Monee School District 201-U
Students attend schools in Crete-Monee School District 201-U, which scored a C-plus on Niche. The district operates six elementary schools, one middle and one high school, serving about 4,500 students.
For private education, there’s the A-rated Illinois Lutheran Elementary School and the B-rated Illinois Lutheran High School.
Crete-Monet High School serves students living in Crete.
Crete Monee Middle School has over 1000 students with a C rating on Niche.
Balmoral Elementary School has approximately 422 students that attend the school.
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Getting to Chicago from Crete
State Route 1 bisects Crete, providing direct access to Chicago to the north. There’s no fixed-route public transit in Crete, so residents mainly rely on cars to get around. The closest hospital to Crete is Franciscan Health in Olympia Fields, 9.5 miles north, and the nearest airport is Chicago Midway International Airport, about 33 miles away.
With no public transit in Crete, cars are what residents rely on cars to get around the area.
Franciscan Health in Olympia Fields is the closest hospital to Crete.
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Crime and climate
Crete has a humid continental climate and experiences four seasons. According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime and property crime in Crete are lower than the Illinois average and national average.
With a decade of experience living in the South Suburbs of Chicago, I’ve developed an intimate understanding of the local market and community nuances that truly set these neighborhoods apart. I proudly serve not only the Chicago suburbs but also Northwest Indiana, offering a unique insider’s perspective to help clients navigate a diverse and dynamic real estate landscape.
As a bilingual professional and dedicated family person, I bring clear communication and genuine care to every interaction. My personal experience as a resident and parent in this community enables me to offer valuable insights into local schools, amenities, and the overall lifestyle that families cherish.
I’m also a proud partner of Alanis Real Estate over at Listing Leaders Northwest, which reinforces my commitment to providing exceptional service and comprehensive market expertise. Whether you're buying or selling, I’m here to guide you every step of the way with integrity, expertise, and a personal touch.
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.
