The Ultimate Guide to Living in Bolingbrook: Everything You Need to Know
Just 30 miles from Chicago's Loop, in the heart of Will County, lies Bolingbrook, Illinois – a diverse community of over 75,000, vibrant with opportunity and life. Ranked as the 3rd most diverse suburb in Illinois and rated a top place to live in Will County, Bolingbrook is a melting pot of cultures, stories, and dreams. Businesses thrive here, from WeatherTech to growing new developments, showcasing its strong economy and promise for the future.
Education, resources, recreation – Bolingbrook has it all, creating endless opportunities for growth and engagement. An active community spirit, celebrated through sports, events, and a shared sense of belonging, makes Bolingbrook truly a place to call home. Read on and we'll show you around!
Shopping Convenience in Bolingbrook
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With a variety of major stores, businesses, and plazas at every turn, residents have unparalleled access to everything from various large grocery stores, offering an assortment of cultural foods, to popular restaurants, big box retailers, and even a shopping mall. Bolingbrook ensures that all your shopping and travel needs are covered, providing convenience and variety right at your door step.
Retail Variety
Bolingbrook offers a retail experience like no other with two Meijer locations on opposite sides of town, ensuring easy access to a wide array of products, from groceries to home essentials. Adding to the variety, Walmart provides affordable options for virtually everything, while Costco allows residents to stock up on bulk items at wholesale prices. For those seeking a unique blend of Latin foods and regular groceries, Tony’s and Fiesta Market are the go-to destinations, each offering a diverse array of culinary delights.
Home Improvement and Outdoor Goods
When it comes to home improvement, residents are spoilt for choice with three major players in the market: Menards, Lowe’s, and Home Depot, each providing an extensive range of products to cater to all your home project needs. Outdoor enthusiasts are not left out, with Bass Pro offering a wide selection of gear and equipment.
Dining and Leisure
Al Fresco Dining and Shopping: Bolingbrook takes pride in its outdoor dining options, providing numerous spots for residents to enjoy a meal under the open sky. Adding to the leisure options is the Promenade Mall, an outdoor shopping paradise with a variety of stores, restaurants, and events that serve as a community hub.
Furniture and Home Goods
For those in need of furniture and home essentials, IKEA in Bolingbrook being 1 of two in Illinois, provides affordable and stylish options to suit any taste.
Accessibility and Growth
Strategic Location: The town’s strategic location is underscored by the proximity to Interstates I-355 and I-55, providing seamless connectivity for easy commutes and travels.
Healthcare and New Developments
Ensuring the well-being of residents, Amita Health Hospital offers top-notch medical services. Meanwhile, Bolingbrook continues to grow and evolve, with new developments and amenities regularly popping up, ensuring that the community remains vibrant and modern.
With such a comprehensive array of services and amenities, Bolingbrook truly stands out as a community that effortlessly combines convenience with variety, meeting the needs and preferences of all its residents.
Green Spaces and Parks
Green spaces and parks play a crucial role in suburban health and wellness, offering residents refreshing natural escapes with trees, gardens, and open spaces. Bolingbrook stands out with its impressive Park District, boasting 50 parks, numerous playgrounds, and picnic shelters spread across 1,106 acres of land. This dedication to providing public outdoor spaces aligns with their mission to enhance the well-being and quality of life for all community members.
Hidden Lakes: A Fisher’s Paradise
Explore 15 acres of semi-wooded sanctuary, with four fishing lakes, ample picnic spots, and a biking/jogging path. The on-site Tackle Box provides licenses, bait, and snacks, making Hidden Lakes a perfect getaway for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center: Connect with Nature
Immerse yourself in 33 acres of natural beauty at Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Engage with interactive exhibits, live reptiles, and educational programs, all while exploring the surrounding forests, prairies, and water bodies.
Pelican Harbor
Pelican Harbor stands out as Bolingbrook's ultimate destination for family fun all year round, boasting the unique feature of being Illinois' only indoor/outdoor aquatic park. Dive into the fun with seven thrilling water slides, a relaxing lazy river, two pools with zero-depth entry, a playful spray area, and a diving well. Additionally, there’s a sand playground for kids and two concession stands offering treats and refreshments. Pelican Harbor caters to swimmers of all ages and abilities, making it a perfect spot for birthday celebrations, group outings, or swimming lessons. Plus, with affordable membership options for both residents and non-residents, everyone can enjoy the aquatic excitement.
Indian Boundary
Indian Boundary Park is a bustling hub of outdoor activities in Bolingbrook, catering to sports enthusiasts and families alike. Boasting an impressive array of amenities, the park features a unique cricket field, numerous sports fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and tennis, as well as a skate park for thrill-seekers.
Community Gardening: Cultivate Joy
Join the Bolingbrook Community Garden and tend to your plot, choosing from standard or raised beds. With added conveniences like extra water capacity, it’s a welcoming space for gardeners of all levels to grow and thrive.
Golfing: Tee Off in Style
The Bolingbrook Golf Club stands out with its 18-hole championship course. The course is as beautiful as it is challenging, with elevated tees, rolling fairways, and seven stunning lakes dotting the landscape. They even host many events including weddings.
Meanwhile, Boughton Ridge and Ashbury’s offer a different vibe with their 9-hole executive-length course and a welcoming environment for both new and seasoned golfers, as well as social gatherings.
Schools and Education
Bolingbrook stands out with its rich variety of schools and districts, ensuring top-tier opportunities for every student. Today, we're spotlighting high schools, a favorite topic for many. Living in Bolingbrook, you can go to 1 of 6 different high schools depending on your location.
Bolingbrook High School
Leading our school showcase is Bolingbrook High School, a central hub of education nestled right in the heart of this vibrant village.
Bolingbrook High School, under the Valley View School District, is more than just a place of learning; it’s a community where students thrive. Bolingbrook High School is surrounded by top-notch amenities—from expansive gyms and indoor tracks to professional-style basketball courts. And who could forget the Raider Stadium? With its striking black turf and bold red Raider logo, it stands out as one of the coolest fields around!
But beyond the impressive facilities, Bolingbrook High School shines in its commitment to education and personal development. Students have a plethora of clubs to choose from and unique opportunities like the Wilco Area Career Center, providing a pathway to college and career readiness with courses in automotive, firefighting, welding, criminal justice, nursing, and much more. Did you know Ronald Reagan attended Wilco? That’s a testament to its quality!
Academically, Bolingbrook High School holds its ground with a commendable ranking of 98th in Illinois, a scorecard of 84.5 from U.S. News, and an 89 percent graduation rate, aligning with the state median. With an A- Niche ranking and a 5 out of 10 Great Schools rating, Bolingbrook High School is a choice worth considering for a solid educational foundation.
Romeoville High School
Also part of the Valley View School District, Romeoville High School is located at the junction of Route 53 and West Taylor Road, primarily serving Romeoville but also accessible to some in Bolingbrook. It stands out with an A- Niche rating and an 8 from Great Schools, reflecting its dedication to academic excellence. For accurate information regarding school zoning, reaching out directly to the district is recommended.
Neuqua Valley High School
Neuqua Valley High School, located in Naperville, serves students from the western and southwestern parts of Bolingbrook. As a top-tier educational institution, it ranks #1 in Best Public High Schools in Will County and shows remarkable excellence in STEM education. With national and state accolades and a commitment to educational excellence, it offers an outstanding learning environment.
Naperville Central High School
Situated in downtown Naperville, Naperville Central High School caters to students living just north of Bolingbrook, close to Whalon Lake. With an impressive A+ Niche rating, a 97% graduation rate, and a 9 out of 10 from Great Schools, it’s a beacon of academic excellence, providing diverse courses and ample opportunities for student success.
Plainfield East High School
Plainfield East High School, positioned at the crossroads of 119th Street and Plainfield-Naperville Road in Plainfield, serves the southwest regions of Bolingbrook. Ranking 3rd in Best Public High Schools in Will County and boasting an A on Niche, it excels academically and athletically, offering a comprehensive and thriving educational setting.
Community High School District 99 (Downers Grove South)
South High School in Downers Grove, serving families in the northeastern parts of Bolingbrook, shines with an A+ Niche rating and a 7 out of 10 from Great Schools. This recently renovated facility is a gateway to opportunities, rich educational programs, and a supportive community, ensuring student success in all endeavors.
Real Estate
Bolingbrook is home to a wide variety of housing options, with over 24,000 places to live spread across about 90 different areas or subdivisions. The village officially became Bolingbrook in 1965, but some homes here were built even before that, in the surrounding counties of Will and Du Page.
A lot of houses were built in the 1970s, so you'll find many established neighborhoods here. In terms of home types, most are single-family houses, but there are also a good number of townhouses, some duplexes, and a couple of condominiums.
Bolingbrook covers a pretty big area, a little more than 20 square miles, and there's still space for new homes to be built. Between 2000 and 2008, we saw a lot of new construction, although that has slowed down a bit with changes in the housing market. That being said, not all homes in Bolingbrook are in subdivisions; there are quite a few older, standalone homes too.
In a nutshell, Bolingbrook’s real estate scene is diverse, with homes ranging in age from as far back as 1945, all the way up to 2013, and now we’re even starting to see some brand new communities popping up.
Price
Diving into the real estate landscape of Bolingbrook, we observe a rich variety of housing options, each with its own unique price tag. As we stand in October 2023, the median home value for single-family detached resale homes across Bolingbrook, notably in the 60440 zip code, gracefully sits at $335,000. On the other hand, the townhouses and condos in the area present a more modest median resale value of $215,000.
In Bolingbrook, understanding real estate prices can be tricky. The pricing spectrum is influenced by diverse factors, including the particular school district or zip code you are eyeing. For those leaning towards making a purchase decision based on school districts, zip code 60440 is a pivotal point, serving schools like Bolingbrook High School, Naperville Central, and Community High School District 99 - South High School. It’s crucial to keep in mind that the median home value is a middle ground, representing a balance between higher and lower-priced homes.
Taking a closer look at specific subdivisions, such as Heritage Creek which is affiliated with Naperville Central, we observe that in the past 12 months, homes have sold in a range stretching from $420,000 to an impressive $595,000, positioning the median home value at a solid $500,000. This variance in home prices underscores the importance of a careful and considered approach when evaluating the real estate market in Bolingbrook.
Shifting to the 60490 zip code, we find ourselves in the western and southwestern parts of Bolingbrook, where single-family detached homes boast a higher median value of $430,000. The past year has seen a wide array of home prices in this area, ranging from $353,000 to a staggering $910,000. Students residing here generally attend schools like Bolingbrook High School, Neuqua Valley, Plainfield East, and occasionally, Romeoville High School.
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