Gages Lake · Lake County · IL
Homes for sale in
Gages Lake.
- Active listings
- 1
- Median list
- $225K
- Avg time on market
- 1 days
- Sold · last year
- 1
Active listings
1 home on the market
About the community
Living in Gages Lake.
Gages Lake is an unincorporated census-designated place in Warren Township, Lake County, set about 42 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and home to roughly 10,637 residents as of the 2020 census. The community takes its name from its own body of water, a glacial lake estimated to have formed nearly 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. Because it is unincorporated, Gages Lake has no village hall of its own and is governed by Lake County, with police and fire service contracted from neighboring Grayslake since the 1960s. It is a settled, residential community with a high 83 percent homeownership rate and a median household income above $100,000. The lake and surrounding parkland, managed by the Wildwood Park District, give residents swimming beaches, boat launches, and fishing within walking distance of home. U.S. Route 45 and Illinois Route 120 frame the community, and Metra trains out of nearby Grayslake connect buyers to the city. People buy here for the combination of lake living, strong Woodland and Warren Township schools, and a quieter Lake County address that still reaches Chicago.
At a glance
About 10,637 residents
An unincorporated community in Warren Township, Lake County, with 2024 estimates near 10,800.
Unincorporated CDP
Governed by Lake County with no village government of its own. Police and fire service come from neighboring Grayslake.
Its own glacial lake
Gages Lake formed nearly 10,000 years ago. The Wildwood Park District operates four swimming beaches and two boat launches on it.
Woodland and Warren schools
Served by Woodland CCSD 50 for K-8 and Warren Township High School District 121 for grades 9-12.
High homeownership
About 83 percent of housing units are owner-occupied, well above the national rate.
Median income above $100,000
Recent estimates put median household income around $103,000.
Eleven local parks
The Wildwood Park District maintains eleven parks totaling about 27 acres with beaches, playgrounds, boat ramps, and fishing spots.
Metra in Grayslake
Commuter rail is available next door in Grayslake on the Milwaukee District North and North Central Service lines.
What’s close
Gages Lake sits in central Lake County in southwestern Warren Township, ringed by larger neighbors and framed by two main highways, about 42 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
- County
- Lake County, Illinois, in Warren Township (unincorporated).
- Distance to Chicago
- About 42 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
- Neighbors
- Bordered to the north and east by Gurnee, to the northwest by Third Lake, and to the west by Grayslake, with Libertyville and Waukegan nearby.
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 45 runs along the western edge and Illinois Route 120 along the southern edge, with Washington Street, Gages Lake Road, and Hunt Club Road as local arteries.
- The lake
- Gages Lake lies in the western part of the community and extends into the village of Third Lake.
- Metra access
- Commuter rail is in adjacent Grayslake, which has stations on the Milwaukee District North line and the North Central Service line.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in Gages Lake revolves around the water and the parks that surround it. The Wildwood Park District manages eleven parks totaling about 27 acres, including four swimming beaches, seven playgrounds, two boat ramps, nine fishing locations, and three picnic pavilions, with beaches open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The district, working with the Gages Lake Conservation Committee and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, also manages Valley Lake and sections of Gages Lake, and residents can launch motorized boats with proof of DNR registration. Beyond the local parks, the Lake County Forest Preserves put large natural areas like Rollins Savanna and Independence Grove within easy reach.
For commuting, the community is built around the car and the train. Most workers drive, helped by U.S. Route 45 and Illinois Route 120 on the community's edges, with an average commute around 26 minutes. Those headed into the city can pick up Metra in neighboring Grayslake, which offers the Milwaukee District North line out of its Lake Street station and the North Central Service line out of its Washington Street station. The mix of lake recreation, county-maintained roads, strong schools, and rail access gives Gages Lake a relaxed suburban rhythm with the city still in reach.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Gages Lake community pages coming soon.
Browse the listings above. Detailed neighborhood pages with market stats, school info, and lifestyle take-downs land here as we roll them out.
Schools
Districts serving Gages Lake.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- CCSD 50Grades PK-8
Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50
Schools serving the area
- Woodland Primary School
- Woodland Elementary School
- Woodland Intermediate School
- Woodland Middle School
All areas of Gages Lake fall within Woodland CCSD 50, which also serves Wildwood plus parts of Gurnee, Grayslake, Park City, and Third Lake.
- HSD 121Grades 9-12
Warren Township High School District 121
Schools serving the area
- Warren Township High School - O'Plaine Campus
- Warren Township High School - Almond Campus
All of Gages Lake is in Warren Township HSD 121. The Almond Campus is physically located within the Gages Lake CDP, though it carries a Gurnee postal address.
From the neighborhood
Around Gages Lake
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
A bird’s eye view of last weekend’s BBQ in the Walled Garden at Hidden Huntley. Laid-back vibe and delicious food cooked fresh onsite. A lovely way to spend a summer afternoon with family and friends
@tablefoodcoLast night marked the first-ever Comedy at the Cosman, and what a debut it was! With a sold-out crowd filling the Cosman Theater, Kevin Farley and opener, Kneel Bryant brought nonstop energy, big stor
@huntleyparkdistrictGrand Opening Monday March 17th @First Watch #breakfast #Algonquin #huntley #crystallake #Carpentersville #newrestaurant #chicagotiktok #foodie
@contentprochicago❄️✨ Huntley’s Ice Sculpture Cocoa Crawl is officially on my must-do list for winter family fun! If you’re looking for something magical, cozy, and totally unique this season, Downtown Huntley Square i
@itsabbysworldafterallAround town
What there is to do in Gages Lake.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Gages Lake and the Wildwood Park District Beaches
The community's namesake glacial lake offers four swimming beaches, two boat launches, and nine fishing spots managed by the Wildwood Park District.
- Parks
Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve
One of Lake County's largest preserves at 1,220 acres, with a 7.75-mile gravel trail winding through wetlands, oak groves, and open prairie in nearby Grayslake.
- Parks
Independence Grove Forest Preserve
A Lake County Forest Preserve in Libertyville centered on a 129-acre lake, with trails, beach swimming, paddling, and nature education.
- Family
Six Flags Great America
A major amusement park with roller coasters and the Hurricane Harbor water park, located just north in neighboring Gurnee.
- Family
Wildwood Park District Programs
Beyond the lakes and beaches, the district runs year-round special events, clubs, classes, and recreation programs for residents.
- Culture
Lake County Forest Preserves Trail Network
Local trails connect to the regional Millennium Trail, the Grayslake Bike Path, and the Prairie Crossing Trail for biking and cross-country skiing.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Gages Lake.
MetraMD-N / NCS line
- Stations: Grayslake, Prairie Crossing
- Terminal: Chicago Union Station
DriveBy car
- Routes: U.S. Route 45 · Illinois Route 120 · Washington Street · Hunt Club Road
- Grayslake Metra: ~10 min
- Chicago Loop: ~75 min
By the numbers
Gages Lake taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
3.09%
effective avg
Sales tax
7.00%
combined
Median sold price
$305,000
MRED · last 12 mo (1 sales)
Median household income
$103,318
ACS
How Gages Lake got here
A bit of history.
The lake at the center of the community formed nearly 10,000 years ago during the most recent ice age. The area's name traces to John Gage and his brother George Gage, who in the 1840s began selling parcels of land surrounding the lake under the name North Grange Resort. An early schoolhouse was built in the area in 1838, an institution that would in time grow into Warren Township High School, established in 1917.
Sometime prior to development in the 1920s, the lake and surrounding land were purchased by Richard Warren Sears of Sears, Roebuck fame. The community grew through the 20th century as a residential and recreational area, and since the 1960s it has received fire and police service from the neighboring village of Grayslake rather than maintaining its own municipal government. In the 1970s the Gages Lake Conservation Committee was formed under the Wildwood Park District, and it continues to help manage the lake today alongside the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The questions buyers actually ask
Gages Lake FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Gages Lake. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What schools serve Gages Lake?
- Gages Lake is served by Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 for kindergarten through grade 8 and Warren Township High School District 121 for grades 9-12. The Warren Township Almond Campus is actually located inside the Gages Lake community.
- Is Gages Lake an incorporated town?
- No. Gages Lake is an unincorporated census-designated place in Warren Township, Lake County. It has no village government of its own and is governed by Lake County, with police and fire service provided by neighboring Grayslake since the 1960s.
- How is the commute to Chicago from Gages Lake?
- Gages Lake is about 42 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The average local commute is roughly 26 minutes, and Metra commuter trains are available next door in Grayslake on the Milwaukee District North and North Central Service lines.
- What are property taxes like in Gages Lake?
- Gages Lake sits in the Grayslake 60030 ZIP area, where the median effective property tax rate runs about 3.09 percent, higher than the Illinois state median. Lake County as a whole averages about 2.61 percent. Always pull the actual tax bill for a specific address, since exemptions and local levies move the number.
- Can I use the lake?
- Yes. The Wildwood Park District operates four swimming beaches and two boat launches on Gages Lake, with beaches running from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Motorized boating is allowed with proof of DNR registration and a park-district sticker.
- How much do homes cost in Gages Lake?
- The recent median home value is about $310,500, and roughly 83 percent of homes are owner-occupied, which makes it a settled, mostly single-family community.
Your local agent
Joe knows Gages Lake
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the places I actually know, and the things that move value here don't show up in the MLS write-up: which streets and buildings hold demand, what the HOA or assessments really cover, how the comps read once you account for condition and location, and where buyers consistently want to be.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who has read the last 50 closed comps in this specific market, not a national average, and can tell you what they actually mean for your price. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Licensed Illinois broker
- Comp-driven pricing
- Gages Lake specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Thinking of selling?
What's your home actually worth?
Not a Zestimate. A real CMA from someone who's sold this neighborhood, knows the floor plan premiums, and can tell you which upgrades the buyer pool here actually pays for.
- Pricing range with comp-by-comp logic
- Pre-list improvements that pay back, and the ones that don't
- No obligation, no spam, no auto-dialer