A sprawling village with a quaint, small-town feel
One of the Chicago area’s quieter communities, Mokena may not be as focused on flashy entertainment options or posh shopping districts as some of its neighboring towns in the western suburbs. But residents in this humble village of about 20,000 people enjoy convenience, comfort and well-regarded schools in a mature, subdivision-lined setting that’s earned its place as a reliable bedroom community. “You have the smaller family businesses and mom-and-pop shops, but you can go just a few miles down for the chain stores and whatever you’re looking for," says Bob Kroll, a resident of Mokena and a real estate agent with Century 21 Pride. "If I had to do it all again, I would pick Mokena first."
Mokena is located in the south suburbs of Chicago.
Residents of Mokena can head to the local library for a quiet afternoon.
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New Traditionals and townhomes in Mokena's subdivisions
Ranch-style homes with partial or fully brick exteriors are fairly common throughout Mokena. Buyers can also find split levels and other new traditional styles from the 1960s and 1970s in subdivisions like Arbury Hills and Grasmere. Properties on the south end are generally newer and larger, with most homes dating from the 1990s into the 2010s. Mokena’s median single-family home price of about $400,000 sits on par with national figures and above the state median for Illinois. “It’s an incredibly strong market. You’ve got a little bit for everyone, there’s something for everyone at every price point,” says Mike McCatty, broker and owner with the McCatty Group at Century 21 Circle.
Newly constructed 21st century homes are available in Mokena with many options to choose from.
Arbury Hills townhomes often come with large garages for extra storage.
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Local coffee shops and fine-dining steakhouses around Mokena
A few small businesses in town sit along Front Street, including Mokena Video, a long-running movie rental store sharing its space with an insurance office, and Hustle & Heart, a boutique with ladies’ fashions and accessories. Local options for groceries and everyday needs include Meijer, Aldi and Berkot’s Super Foods. Mokena residents are also about 9 miles south of Orland Park, where additional big box stores, restaurants and entertainment options await.
Clancy Bros Coffee Roasters is a popular morning spot in Mokena.
Mr Benny's is a popular high-end restaurant in Mokena.
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Indoor walking trails and hikes through the local ecosystems
Mokena experiences chilly winters with about 35 inches of snow a year from November into March. Summers are generally warm, reaching peaks of about 84 degrees in July.
Folks can play on the playground, softball diamond or football field at Main Park, or take in mild springtime days under the gazebo. Just a few feet east along La Porte Road, the village’s youth basketball leagues play on the indoor court at The Oaks Fitness Center. Other amenities at the center include exercise equipment, pickleball courts and a disc golf course. . Hickory Creek Preserve has a variety of natural landscapes, including woodlands, wetlands, prairies and savannas; visitors can explore 2 miles of trails by hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Grasmere Park is the perfect place for an afternoon hike.
D-Bat near Arbury Hills in Mokena is the premier baseball training facility in the country.
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Mokena's Independence Day parade and Halloween festivals
While quiet most of the year, Mokena still offers occasional events to inspire the local community to gather and celebrate. Most of these are held at Yunker Park, including Farm & Barn Fest, which includes live music, a petting zoo, mechanical bull rides and local vendors. “The big event of the year is the Fourth of July," Kroll says. "We do a huge parade where all the other local communities come together for the parade and fireworks." In the fall, Halloween Hollow brings carnival rides, food, live music and on-theme craft vendors at the event's Monster Market.
About 7 miles east in Tinley Park, Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre is one of the Chicago area’s major venues for outdoor concerts from spring to fall. During the operating season, well-known acts in various genres take the stage; past performers include Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Pitbull, New Kids on the Block, 21 Savage and more.
Visitors can shop for jewelry at the Halloween Hollow in Mokena.
You might score a free hot dog during the Mokena Parade of Lights.
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More options for athletes at Lincoln-Way Central High
Mokena School District 159 generally serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The district’s three schools each earn individual B-plus grades on Niche. Lincoln-Way Central High School offers more than 30 athletic programs and earns an A grade on Niche.
The largest local employers in the Mokena area are generally in surrounding Will County communities like Joliet, New Lenox and Bolingbrook. The county’s biggest employers include Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, Silver Cross Hospital, Caterpillar, Harrah's Casino Joliet and Midwest Generation.
The beautiful campus of Mokena Intermediate School includes modern amenities for students.
Lincoln-Way Central High School is a highly rated, public school located in New Lenox, IL.
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Shopping along Lincoln Highway and commuting via train
Due to the village’s wide, suburban layout, most residents rely on cars to get around in Mokena. La Porte Road and Wolf Road are two of the city’s primary thoroughfares, while Interstate 80 connects the area to the rest of the western suburbs. Mokena is about 36 miles away from the central Chicago Loop; for those looking to save on gas during commutes, a Metra station offers train service into the city on McGovney Street downtown.
Lincoln Highway is another major thoroughfare running east to west, lined with the major shopping centers and linking to Silver Cross Medical Center, 7 miles northwest of the village in New Lenox. Residents traveling beyond Chicago can catch flights at Chicago Midway International Airport, 36 miles northeast, or Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 44 miles north.
Historically low crime rates in Mokena
According to data from the FBI, Mokena’s violent and property crime levels are far below average compared to national and state numbers. Cases in both categories reached a 10-year low in 2021. While they rose slightly in 2022, it fell again the following year; the most recent in which FBI crime data is available.
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.
