Palos Park · Cook County · IL
Homes for sale in
Palos Park.
- Active listings
- 18
- Median list
- $558K
- Avg time on market
- 21 days
- Sold · last year
- 121
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (Unknown)
About the community
Living in Palos Park.
Palos Park is an affluent, low-density village in southwest Cook County, set amid the sprawling Palos and Sag Valley divisions of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The village is known for its large, heavily wooded residential lots and a rural, semi-equestrian character that sets it apart from denser neighboring suburbs. Commuters ride the Metra SouthWest Service line from the Palos Park station at 123rd Street and 82nd Avenue, with through service to Chicago Union Station downtown. Families are drawn to The Center, Palos Park and its long-running Children's Farm, along with Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 feeding into Consolidated High School District 230. With the Chicago Loop reachable in roughly half an hour by car and adjacent access to thousands of acres of preserve trails, Palos Park blends a country-retreat feel with metro-area convenience.
At a glance
Wooded, low-density
An affluent, low-density wooded village amid the Cook County forest preserves, known for large lots.
4,899 residents
Population was 4,899 as of the 2020 census, a small and settled community.
Median income ~$122k
Median household income was about $121,696 in recent estimates, among the highest in the Palos area.
SWS Metra station
The Palos Park station on the SouthWest Service line runs to Chicago Union Station and sits in Fare Zone 4.
Median home value ~$472k
The Zillow Home Value Index for Palos Park as of 2026, reflecting the village's larger, wooded lots.
Cap Sauers Holding
Adjacent to Cap Sauers Holding, the largest roadless area in Cook County at about 1,520 acres.
Palos D118 and D230
Served by Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 for K-8, feeding Consolidated High School District 230.
Semi-equestrian feel
Large wooded lots with a rural, semi-equestrian character and direct trail access.
What’s close
Palos Park sits in southwest Cook County, surrounded on multiple sides by the Palos and Sag Valley divisions of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The village is organized around 123rd Street and LaGrange Road (US Route 45), with the Metra station anchoring its small downtown.
- Metra SWS station
- The Palos Park station at 123rd Street and 82nd Avenue is on the SouthWest Service line with about 350 parking spaces.
- Sag Valley and Palos preserves
- Miles of looping unpaved trails through some of the most remote areas of Cook County.
- Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve
- A roughly 1,520-acre preserve, the largest roadless area in Cook County, with oak forests, prairies, and wetlands.
- The Center and Children's Farm
- A historic retreat and working children's farm offering programs March through November.
- Village Green
- The village's central park at 8901 W. 123rd Street with a recreation center, gazebo, tennis courts, and playground.
- Major roads
- 123rd Street/McCarthy Road, LaGrange Road (US Route 45), Southwest Highway (IL Route 7), and Route 83/Cal-Sag Road.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in Palos Park revolves around the outdoors. The village is hemmed in by thousands of acres of Cook County forest preserve, including the Sag Valley trail system and Cap Sauers Holding, the largest roadless area in the county, giving residents direct access to hiking, mountain biking, and bridle paths from their own neighborhoods. Larger wooded lots and a deliberately low-density zoning pattern give the community a rural, almost country feel that is rare this close to Chicago.
The social heart of the village includes The Center, Palos Park, a longtime retreat whose Children's Farm draws families for tours, junior-farmer programs, and seasonal events from spring through fall. The Village Green hosts recreation programs, tennis, and community gatherings, while small businesses cluster near the 123rd Street and LaGrange Road corridor. With the Metra station a short drive or walk for many residents, Palos Park offers a quiet, nature-first lifestyle alongside a reliable rail commute to downtown Chicago.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Palos Park 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 Palos Park.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D118Grades Pre-K-8
Palos Community Consolidated School District 118
Schools serving the area
- Palos East Elementary School
- Palos West Elementary School
- Palos South Middle School
District 118 covers Palos Park, Palos Heights, the southern part of Palos Hills, and some unincorporated Cook County areas. Confirm the assigned attendance area by address.
- D230Grades 9-12
Consolidated High School District 230
Schools serving the area
- Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
- Carl Sandburg High School
- Victor J. Andrew High School
District 118 graduates continue to District 230, primarily at Stagg or Sandburg High Schools, so verify the assigned high school by address.
From the neighborhood
Around Palos Park
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
Fun family day out idea: berry picking at Huntley Berry Farm, a not for profit working farm 🍓 #huntleyberryfarm #familydayout #activities #fyp #berrypicking
@acontentqueen#huntley #tacos locos
@tacosdelbarrio01Deicke Park 📍Huntley, IL Hidden gem! This place is amazing, has two playgrounds with lots of activities for kids all ages! Huge slide, sandbox, playhouses, picnic tables and more #chicagosuburbs #hun
@titibby01Trying 7 brew for the first time and we are obsessed ! #CapCut#7brewcoffee#huntleyil#fyp
@solariesrkdAround town
What there is to do in Palos Park.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve
The largest roadless area in Cook County, roughly 1,520 acres of oak forest, prairie, and wetland with gravel trails and footpaths.
- Parks
Palos Park Woods (Sag Valley Trails)
A Forest Preserves of Cook County site and gateway to the Sag Valley loop, a popular moderate hiking and trail-riding route.
- Family
The Children's Farm at The Center
A working farm with animals, junior-farmer programs, and group and family tours, open March to November.
- Culture
The Center, Palos Park
A historic interfaith retreat and program center on wooded grounds offering classes, events, and nature programming.
- Family
Village Green
The village's central park with a recreation center, rentable gazebo, tennis courts, playground, and half-court basketball.
- Food & Drink
Wu's House
A regional restaurant at 123rd Street and LaGrange Road known for its sushi bar, hibachi lunch, and boba.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Palos Park.
MetraSWS line
- Stations: Palos Park
- Terminal: Chicago Union Station
DriveBy car
- Routes: US 45 (LaGrange Road) · IL 7 (Southwest Highway) · IL 83 (Cal-Sag Road) · 123rd Street
- O'Hare Airport: ~52 min
- Chicago Loop: ~33 min
By the numbers
Palos Park taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.21%
effective avg
Sales tax
10.25%
combined
Median sold price
$560,000
MRED · last 12 mo (121 sales)
Median household income
$121,696
ACS
How Palos Park got here
A bit of history.
European settlement of the Palos area began in the 1830s after the federal government opened the region to land grants following the 1832 defeat of Sauk leader Black Hawk, with the Paddock family among the first settlers in 1834. The community developed as a rural farming area and later as a popular country retreat in the 1890s, with its wooded ridges and ravines attracting visitors from Chicago. The Village of Palos Park was formally incorporated in 1914.
In the early 20th century, Palos Park became known as an artists' retreat, and its surrounding landscape was steadily protected as the Forest Preserves of Cook County acquired large tracts in the Palos and Sag Valley areas. The village grew slowly for decades, then expanded during the 1960s as Chicago's suburbs spread southwest. Even as it grew, Palos Park preserved its low-density, heavily wooded character, and by the 2020 census the population was 4,899.
The questions buyers actually ask
Palos Park FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Palos Park. If yours isn't here, text 815-355-0582, same-day reply.
- What schools serve Palos Park?
- Palos Park is served by Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, which runs Palos East and Palos West elementary schools and Palos South Middle School for grades Pre-K through 8. Students then attend Consolidated High School District 230, primarily Amos Alonzo Stagg or Carl Sandburg High Schools. Confirm the assigned schools by address.
- How do I commute to downtown Chicago from Palos Park?
- Palos Park has a Metra station on the SouthWest Service line at 123rd Street and 82nd Avenue, with through trains to Chicago Union Station. The station is in Fare Zone 4 and offers about 350 parking spaces. By car, the Loop is roughly 26 miles and about 33 minutes off-peak.
- What are property taxes like in Palos Park?
- Palos Park sits in Cook County, where effective property tax rates are well above the national average. Local analyses put the village's effective rate near 2.21 percent of home value, reflecting the high Palos Township composite rate. Always confirm the actual bill for a specific parcel.
- Why are lots in Palos Park so large and wooded?
- Palos Park has long maintained low-density zoning and a country-retreat character, with many homes on large, heavily wooded lots surrounded by Cook County forest preserve land, giving the village a rural, semi-equestrian feel that is uncommon this close to Chicago.
- What forest preserves are near Palos Park?
- Palos Park is bordered by the Palos and Sag Valley divisions of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, including Palos Park Woods and Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve, the largest roadless area in Cook County at about 1,520 acres, with miles of hiking, biking, and bridle trails.
- What is the median home value in Palos Park?
- As of 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index for Palos Park is about $471,834, with values reflecting the village's larger, wooded lots and low-density character. That sits well above its immediate Palos neighbors.
Nearby
Towns next to Palos Park.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Palos Park.
Your local agent
Joe knows Palos Park
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
- Palos Park 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