Lake Bluff · Lake County · IL
Homes for sale in
Lake Bluff.
- Active listings
- 17
- Median list
- $1.50M
- Avg time on market
- 23 days
- Sold · last year
- 0
Map data, Mapbox / OpenStreetMap contributors
Active listings
17 homes on the market
About the community
Living in Lake Bluff.
Lake Bluff sits on Lake Michigan in southeastern Lake County, about 35 miles north of downtown Chicago. The village is small, roughly 5,800 residents, and the layout is classic North Shore: a tight walkable downtown around Scranton Avenue, a beach park at the foot of the bluff, and tree-lined residential streets that step back from the lake. K-8 students attend Lake Bluff Elementary District 65, then move on to Lake Forest High School in District 115. The Metra UP-N station puts the Loop a little over an hour away by train, and US-41 plus I-94 a few miles west handle the drive to O'Hare. The character is quiet, civic, and family-first, with an 1875 Methodist Camp Meeting origin still visible in the village street grid.
At a glance
About 5,800 residents
2020 Census recorded 5,616; the 2023 ACS 5-year estimate puts the village around 5,834.
Lake Bluff D65 plus Lake Forest D115
Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 for K-8, then Lake Forest High School in Community High School District 115 (a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school).
Metra UP-N station
Lake Bluff station at 600 Sheridan Road, fare zone 4, about 30 miles to Ogilvie Transportation Center, around 1 hour 9 minutes inbound.
Sunrise Park beach
Lakefront park with two swimming beaches, a dog beach, kayak and paddle boat access, and picnic shelters with fireplaces. Resident beach passes free with proof of Lake Bluff address.
US-41 and I-94 corridor
US-41 Skokie Highway crosses the western portion of the village; I-94 Tri-State Tollway sits immediately west. About 29 miles to O'Hare, 34 to 38 minutes by car.
Median income about $205,000
Per Data USA 2023, with more than 80 percent of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Affluent North Shore profile.
Property tax about 2.26 percent
Median effective property tax rate in Lake Bluff per Ownwell, with a median annual tax bill near $10,401.
Incorporated 1895
Founded in 1875 as a Methodist Camp Meeting on the bluff above Lake Michigan, formally incorporated September 21, 1895.
What’s close
Lake Bluff is compact, walkable, and oriented around the bluff above Lake Michigan. A few anchors define daily life here.
- Downtown Lake Bluff (Scranton Avenue)
- The village center has a small cluster of restaurants, boutiques, and civic buildings around Scranton and Center Avenue.
- Sunrise Park and Beach
- Lake Bluff's signature lakefront park with two swimming beaches, a dog beach, kayak and paddle boat access, and picnic shelters with fireplaces.
- Lake Bluff Metra Station
- 600 Sheridan Road, on the UP-N line, fare zone 4, with 51 weekday trains and 204 parking spaces.
- Lake Bluff Elementary and Middle School
- District 65 K-8 campus serving the village, about 881 students.
- Lake Bluff History Museum and Public Library
- 127 East Scranton Avenue, shared building, volunteer-run museum tracing village history.
- Lake Bluff Golf Club
- 355 W Washington Ave, public 18-hole course established 1968 on the west side of the village.
What it’s actually like to live here
Living in Lake Bluff feels like a small village more than a suburb. The downtown is two short blocks, the elementary and middle schools sit inside walking distance for much of the village, and most summer weekends end up at Sunrise Beach. Resident beach passes are free with proof of Lake Bluff address, and non-residents pay a daily fee, so the lakefront stays oriented to the community. The Park District runs Mawman Park, Artesian Park, and Sunrise Park, plus the public Lake Bluff Golf Club on the west side.
The school setup is a big part of the appeal. Kids go through District 65 K-8 in the village, then move to Lake Forest High School in District 115, a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school. Commuters use the Metra UP-N at the downtown station or drive a few minutes west to US-41 and I-94. The median household income is above $200,000 and more than 80 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which shows up in the housing stock and the way the village invests in its parks and schools.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Lake Bluff 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 Lake Bluff.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D65Grades Pre-K to 8
Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65
Schools serving the area
- Lake Bluff Elementary School
- Lake Bluff Middle School
K-8 district serving the village of Lake Bluff in northern Lake County, about 881 students across the elementary and middle campuses.
- D115Grades 9 to 12
Lake Forest Community High School District 115
Schools serving the area
- Lake Forest High School
Serves Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Knollwood, and smaller parts of Mettawa and North Chicago. Lake Forest High School was recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school.
Around town
What there is to do in Lake Bluff.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Sunrise Park and Beach
Lake Bluff's lakefront park on Lake Michigan with two swimming beaches, a dog beach, kayaking and paddle boats, and beach shelters with fireplaces.
- Food & Drink
Lake Bluff Brewing Company
Community beer hall and destination brewery at 16 E Scranton Ave, known for award-winning beer and live music.
- Culture
Lake Bluff History Museum
Volunteer-run museum at 127 E Scranton Ave with rotating exhibits including Made in Lake Bluff and Influencers, tracing the village from camp meeting to suburb.
- Family
Lake Bluff Golf Club
Public 18-hole golf course at 355 W Washington Ave, established 1968, on the west side of the village.
- Parks
Artesian Park
Park built around the former Artesian Lake site with tennis courts, a playground, and Troyer Field for Little League games.
- Family
Mawman Park
Lake Bluff Park District site with playground, athletic fields, and open space, one of the village's three core parks alongside Artesian and Sunrise.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Lake Bluff.
MetraUP-N line
- Stations: Lake Bluff
- Terminal: Chicago Ogilvie (OTC)
- Distance: 30 miles to downtown Chicago
DriveBy car
- Routes: US-41 (Skokie Highway) · I-94 (Tri-State Tollway) · IL-176 (Rockland Road)
- O'Hare Airport: ~36 min
- Chicago Loop: ~51 min
By the numbers
Lake Bluff taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.26%
effective avg
Sales tax
8.00%
combined
Median sold price
$747,000
MRED · last 12 mo (142 sales)
Median household income
$205,735
ACS
How Lake Bluff got here
A bit of history.
Lake Bluff began in 1875 when a group of Methodist ministers led by Solomon Thatcher of River Forest purchased about 100 acres of lakefront property and formed the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association. The earlier settlement known as Rockland was renamed Lake Bluff, and the first camp meeting worship service was held on July 6, 1876. From 1875 to about 1900 the Association sponsored summer religious assemblies, concerts, and recreational gatherings on the bluff above Lake Michigan, drawing visitors up from Chicago by rail.
The village formally incorporated on September 21, 1895, with Charles Trusdell as the first Village President. The East School opened that same September. The Camp Meeting Association held its final program and deeded its remaining property to the Village in 1898, closing the camp era and transitioning Lake Bluff from a seasonal resort into a year-round suburb. Later decades brought the Naval Station Great Lakes to the immediate north, the Union Pacific North commuter line through the village, and steady residential development that filled in the streets between the lakefront and US-41.
The questions buyers actually ask
Lake Bluff FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Lake Bluff. If yours isn't here, text 815-355-0582, same-day reply.
- How are the schools in Lake Bluff?
- Strong. K-8 students attend Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, a small K-8 district of about 881 students centered in the village. High schoolers go on to Lake Forest High School in Community High School District 115, a 2021 National Blue Ribbon school that also serves Lake Forest and Knollwood.
- How long is the commute to Chicago from Lake Bluff?
- The Metra UP-N from the Lake Bluff station to Ogilvie Transportation Center runs about 1 hour 9 minutes, with 51 weekday trains and 204 station parking spaces. By car the Loop is about 34 miles and roughly 51 minutes in normal traffic, mostly via US-41 and I-94.
- What is the property tax rate in Lake Bluff?
- Lake Bluff's median effective property tax rate is about 2.26 percent per Ownwell, with a median annual tax bill near $10,401 on a median assessed home value around $468,566. Always confirm by pulling the actual tax bill for the specific address.
- What is the village like day to day?
- Small, walkable, and lake oriented. A two-block downtown around Scranton Avenue, an easy walk or bike ride to Sunrise Beach, an active Park District running Mawman, Artesian, and Sunrise Parks, and schools that most kids can walk to. Resident beach passes are free with proof of Lake Bluff address.
- How far is O'Hare from Lake Bluff?
- About 29 miles by car, roughly 34 to 38 minutes depending on traffic, mostly via US-41 and I-294.
- What is the median home value in Lake Bluff?
- Zillow's Home Value Index for Lake Bluff is about $536,000, up roughly 2.5 percent year over year as of the most recent reading. Per-address values vary significantly between the lakefront, downtown, and west-side neighborhoods.
- Where should a buyer look first in Lake Bluff?
- The bluff and east-of-Sheridan area for classic lakefront stock and short walks to Sunrise Beach, the streets around Scranton Avenue if walkable downtown access matters, and the west side near Lake Bluff Golf Club for newer homes with more lot. Tell a Subdiview agent what matters most and they can match you to two or three neighborhoods worth touring.
Nearby
Towns next to Lake Bluff.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Lake Bluff.
Your local agent
Joe knows Lake Bluff
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the communities I actually know, and the details that determine resale value here aren't in the MLS write-up: which lots back to open space, which streets carry the most consistent demand, which floor plans buyers ask for by name, and what each HOA actually covers.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who's walked the streets, talked to the residents, and read the last 50 closed comps in this market specifically. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Lives in McHenry County
- Local specialist
- Lake Bluff 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