Crystal-clear living in the northwestern Chicago suburbs
50 miles northwest of Chicago, natural beauty and suburban stylings converge in Crystal Lake. This McHenry County community takes its name from the lake near its center, which was described as “clear as a crystal” when the first European settlement in the area was established in the 1830s. About 200 years later, the city is now a community of about 40,000 people, with more than 15,000 of those residents moving in during a boom in residential development that started in the 1990s. Folks here are a mix of commuters headed closer to the Windy City and local workers, but the shared sense of local pride ties the whole population together. “People care here, they want to make sure the city's clean. It's well taken care of,” says Karina Hiselman, a real estate agent with the Riser Collective Team at Compass. Hiselman has sold homes in Crystal Lake and greater Chicago for more than seven years.
Enjoy the small-town charm of Downtown Crystal Lake.
Take in nature's beauty at West Park.
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From modest bungalows to waterfront abodes
Crystal Lake offers one of the most varied single-family home selections in the Chicago suburbs, with modest bungalows, four- and five-bedroom waterfront homes, and new traditional ranch homes among the mix of options. Early homes in town were built from the late 1950s through the 1970s, but most properties were built from the 1990s onward, corresponding with the area’s boom in development and population growth. The median single-family home value in the area is about $365,000, making homes here generally higher than the state average but lower than national figures. Sales can go as high as $2 million for custom homes on large lots and houses built along the namesake lake.
Townhomes, condos and other multi-family properties make up about a quarter of the home market here. Most of these homes were built between the 1970s and the present and employ new traditional designs. Townhomes have a slightly lower median price of about $325,000.
Downtown Crystal Lake has a large selection of turn-of-the-century homes.
Sales can go as high as $2 million for houses built along the namesake lake.
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A-rated Crystal Lake schools
Hiselman points to Crystal Lake’s acclaimed schools as a major draw for homebuyers. Crystal Lake Consolidated School District 47 serves young students in town, and it includes nine elementary schools and three middle schools. The district holds an A-minus grade on Niche, and all twelve schools hold individual grades of B or higher on the website. Older kids attend schools within Community High School District No. 155. All five of the district’s high schools earn A grades on Niche.
Husmann Elementary is a well rated public school in Crystal Lake, serving grades K-5.
Marlowe Middle School apart of South Huntley school district is located in Lake In The Hills, IL
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Waterside recreation at Three Oaks
Crystal Lake’s park district operates more than 40 different facilities within the city, from open nature reserves and small neighborhood parks to full-scale recreation hubs. Three Oaks Recreation Area was originally created as a quarry, but lives a second life today as a popular local park with two lakes. In the hot summer months, visitors cool off in the lake’s designated swimming area while kids play on the splash pad. Lippold Park offers dedicated spaces for soccer, baseball, football and disc golf alongside a skate park, dog park and other specialized zones for outdoor fun. Folks can also enjoy days on the green at eight golf courses in the surrounding area.
Three Oaks Recreation Area was originally a quarry, but today is a local park w/two lakes.
Lippold Park has wonderful walking trails along the preserve.
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Downtown brews and bites
Distinctive shopping options in town are generally found in downtown Crystal Lake, in the blocks near Main Street and Grant Street. “There’s lots of boutiques, clothes and food out there. Some of the shops have unique things like crystals and stones,” Hiselman says. Most of Crystal Lake’s mainstream shopping options, including familiar big box stores and groceries, are available along Northwest Highway.
Selected dining options are available near both of the city’s primary shopping areas. Local restaurants are the primary choices in downtown Crystal Lake, while Northwest Highway has a mix of local eateries, drive-thru fast food places and casual chains.
Downtown Crystal Lake has many local businesses, including an antiques store.
Taste of Benedicts & More is located on Williams St in downtown Crystal Lake.
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54 miles to Chicago
US-14/Northwest Highway is one of Crystal Lake’s primary thoroughfares, running east-west across much of the center of the city. Illinois Route 31 and Main Street are the main north-south travel options. Crystal Lake is about 54 miles northwest of Chicago; commuters can get to the Windy City via US-14 or by heading 13 miles south to Interstate 90. For people taking daily trains to work, a Metra station is also available near Main Street and Railroad Street downtown.
Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, about 6 miles northwest of the city, is the closest emergency room for most residents. Folks traveling beyond the Chicagoland area can catch flights out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, about 33 miles southeast.
Horror movies, Independence Day fireworks and the Johnny Appleseed Festival
“One of the best parts of living in Crystal Lake is everything that comes with the summertime,” says Jennifer Sankot, a local real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Everyone comes together downtown to watch the Independence Day parade, and folks will head to Crystal Lake Beach to enjoy the sun and watch fireworks.”
While Crystal Lake has a much more peaceful atmosphere than the fictional camp sharing its name, the town embraces the coincidence with Friday the 13th celebrations. The Park District has hosted screenings of the Jason movies at Crystal Lake Main Beach with local beer selections and games for grown-up horror film fans. Other all-ages festivities in town include the Johnny Appleseed Festival each fall; folks can try out games, ride on a wagon or a pony, or meet the animals of the petting zoo. Live music, comedy performances and community theater shows are regular programming at the Raue Center for the Arts downtown.
Theater shows are regular programming at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake.
Kids dance joyfully in front of the gazebo as a live band plays at the farmers market.
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Low crime rates
According to information from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Crystal Lake’s reported violent crime rates have been rising and falling since 2022. The area’s rates trend slightly higher than the national average but lower than the state average for Illinois.
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