River Grove · Cook County · IL
Homes for sale in
River Grove.
- Active listings
- 21
- Median list
- $410K
- Avg time on market
- 26 days
- Sold · last year
- 0
Photo: Thshriver / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About the community
Living in River Grove.
River Grove is a village in Leyden Township in the west central portion of Cook County, Illinois, and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Its Metra station sits 11.4 miles from Chicago Union Station, putting downtown within reach by a single rail line. The village covers about 2.39 square miles and had a population of 10,612 at the 2020 census, giving it a dense, established small-town character. It is home to Triton College, a community college whose campus also hosts the Cernan Earth and Space Center planetarium. Public high school students are served by Leyden Community High School District 212, and the village sits along the Des Plaines River with its commercial spine on Grand Avenue, where the landmark Gene and Jude's hot dog stand has operated since 1946.
At a glance
~10,600 residents
River Grove had a population of 10,612 at the 2020 census across about 2.39 square miles in Leyden Township.
MD-W Metra
The River Grove station on the Milwaukee District West and North Central Service lines is 11.4 miles from Chicago Union Station.
Triton College
An 86-acre community college campus in River Grove serving the Elmwood Park, Leyden, and Proviso Township districts.
Cernan Earth and Space Center
A public planetarium on the Triton campus, open since 1974 and named for Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
Leyden District 212
High schoolers attend Leyden Community High School District 212, split between East Leyden and West Leyden by address.
Median income ~$63k
The median household income is about 63,193 per the latest Census profile.
Local landmark
Gene and Jude's hot dog stand, on River Road near Grand Avenue, has operated since 1946.
Des Plaines River
The river runs through the village, with River Front Park along its banks at 8701 W. Grand Avenue.
What’s close
River Grove sits in the west central portion of Cook County in Leyden Township, straddling the Des Plaines River with its commercial activity concentrated along Grand Avenue and near the Triton College campus.
- Commercial corridor
- Grand Avenue is the village's main commercial spine and the site of the landmark Gene and Jude's hot dog stand near River Road.
- Metra station
- The River Grove station at 8421 Arnold Avenue serves the Milwaukee District West and North Central Service lines, with about 170 parking spaces.
- Major roads
- The station sits at Illinois Route 171 (Des Plaines River Road); the village is near the I-90 and I-294 corridors that serve nearby O'Hare.
- Des Plaines River and parks
- The Des Plaines River runs through the village, and River Front Park at 8701 W. Grand Avenue sits along its banks.
- Triton College
- The 86-acre Triton College campus, with the Cernan Earth and Space Center planetarium, is a central River Grove landmark.
- Neighbors
- River Grove borders Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Melrose Park, and River Forest within and around Leyden Township.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in River Grove blends a dense residential grid with the rhythm of a college town. The village covers just 2.39 square miles with about 4,304 households, so neighborhoods are compact and walkable, and the Metra station puts a one-seat ride to Chicago Union Station within reach for commuters. Triton College anchors the community, drawing students and staff and hosting public programming at the Cernan Earth and Space Center planetarium. Grand Avenue carries much of the local commerce, including the nationally recognized Gene and Jude's hot dog stand.
Recreation in River Grove centers on the Des Plaines River and village green space. River Front Park, along the river, hosts seasonal events including River Front Fest, a summer concert series at the gazebo, and the Lions Club Steak and Lobster Fest. The Bradley A. Stephens Center runs year-round programs spanning fitness classes, sports camps and leagues, group trips, and movies in the park for residents of all ages. The mix of riverside parks, college amenities, and rail access gives the village an established, neighborly feel reflected in its motto, Village of Friendly Neighbors.
Neighborhoods
Detailed River Grove 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 River Grove.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D85.5Grades K-8
River Grove School District 85.5
Schools serving the area
- River Grove Elementary School
- Rhodes School (District 84.5, serves part of the village)
River Grove is split between River Grove SD 85.5 and Rhodes SD 84.5 for elementary grades. Confirm the assigned school by address.
- D212Grades 9-12
Leyden Community High School District 212
Schools serving the area
- East Leyden High School (Franklin Park)
- West Leyden High School (Northlake)
River Grove students attend Leyden District 212; assignment between East and West Leyden depends on residential address per district boundaries.
From the neighborhood
Around River Grove
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
VISIT NOW! Now Opened! 10723 Dundee-Huntley Rd, Huntley, IL 60142 Opened 11am-7pm Monday-Saturday #restaurant #familyownedbusiness
@huntleys.deliThe Metaphysical Market is open at Sew Hop'd Brewery in Huntley, Il! #supportsmallbusiness #withloveproducts #paranormalchicago #metaphysicalmarket #soapmakingtiktok
@withloveproducts#huntley #tacos locos
@tacosdelbarrio01Last 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
@huntleyparkdistrictAround town
What there is to do in River Grove.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Culture
Cernan Earth and Space Center
A public planetarium on the Triton College campus, open since 1974 and named for Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
- Food & Drink
Gene and Jude's
A hot dog stand at 2720 N. River Road founded in 1946, serving a minimalist Chicago-style Depression dog.
- Parks
River Front Park
A village park at 8701 W. Grand Avenue along the Des Plaines River that hosts River Front Fest and summer concerts at its gazebo.
- Culture
Triton College
A community college in River Grove with public cultural, athletic, and continuing-education programming.
- Family
Bradley A. Stephens Center
A village recreation center offering sports camps, fitness classes, play school, and group trips.
- Culture
River Grove Historical Commission
The village body that preserves and presents local history through exhibits and programs.
Getting around
Commute + transit from River Grove.
MetraMD-W line
- Stations: River Grove
- Terminal: Chicago Union Station
- Distance: 11 miles to downtown Chicago
DriveBy car
- Routes: IL 171 (Des Plaines River Road) · Grand Avenue · I-90 (nearby) · I-294 (nearby)
- O'Hare Airport: ~20 min
- Chicago Loop: ~35 min
By the numbers
River Grove taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.84%
effective avg
Sales tax
11.00%
combined
Median sold price
$325,000
MRED · last 12 mo (110 sales)
Median household income
$63,193
ACS
How River Grove got here
A bit of history.
River Grove was incorporated in 1888 and was the first village in Leyden Township. It grew out of the Rhodes subdivision, where in 1872 Richard Rhodes purchased land on the south side of Grand Avenue, subdivided roughly 100 acres, and built the first houses. At incorporation the village had an estimated population of about 200, roughly four-fifths of them German. The community took its two-part name from the shallow Des Plaines River and from the groves of American ash trees that lined the riverbanks.
The village's defining modern institution arrived in the 1960s. Junior College District 300 was created by referendum in March 1964, and a second referendum in March 1965 approved purchase of an 86-acre campus site at Fifth Avenue and Palmer Street in River Grove. Triton College opened in September 1965, initially holding classes at area high schools before its own River Grove buildings were completed by 1969. Since 1974 the campus has been home to the Cernan Earth and Space Center, a public planetarium named for Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan, who was raised nearby in suburban Bellwood.
The questions buyers actually ask
River Grove FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping River Grove. If yours isn't here, text 815-355-0582, same-day reply.
- What school district is River Grove in?
- River Grove's public high school students attend Leyden Community High School District 212, which runs East Leyden in Franklin Park and West Leyden in Northlake. For elementary grades, the village is split between River Grove School District 85.5 and Rhodes School District 84.5. Triton College, a two-year community college, is also located right in the village. Which Leyden campus a student attends depends on their home address.
- How is the commute from River Grove to downtown Chicago?
- River Grove has its own Metra station at 8421 Arnold Avenue, served by the Milwaukee District West line and the North Central Service. The station is 11.4 miles from Chicago Union Station and sits in fare zone 2. There are about 170 parking spaces across two village lots, so commuters can park and ride. Pace bus routes also connect at the station.
- What are property taxes like in River Grove?
- Property taxes here run high, as they do across much of Cook County. The median effective property tax rate in River Grove is about 2.84 percent, well above the national median. On a median home value of about 230,000, the median annual tax bill is roughly 6,500. Homeowners can file an appeal with the Cook County Assessor if they believe their assessment is too high.
- Is Triton College in River Grove?
- Yes. Triton College sits on an 86-acre campus in River Grove and opened in September 1965. It serves the Elmwood Park, Leyden, and Proviso Township high school districts, and its name reflects those three districts. The campus is also home to the Cernan Earth and Space Center, a public planetarium open since 1974 and named for Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
- What is there to do in River Grove?
- River Grove punches above its size for a 2.39-square-mile village. You can catch a show at the Cernan Earth and Space Center planetarium on the Triton campus, or grab a Chicago-style hot dog at Gene and Jude's, a stand operating since 1946. River Front Park along the Des Plaines River hosts River Front Fest, summer gazebo concerts, and the Lions Club Steak and Lobster Fest. The Bradley A. Stephens Center runs sports camps, fitness classes, and family programs year-round.
- What is housing like in River Grove?
- River Grove is a compact, established community with about 4,304 households across its 2.39 square miles, and the median home value is roughly 230,000. Housing is denser than in many outer suburbs, reflecting the village's small footprint and its history as one of Leyden Township's oldest communities. Most buyers are drawn by the Metra access, the Triton College presence, and proximity to O'Hare.
Nearby
Towns next to River Grove.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border River Grove.
Your local agent
Joe knows River Grove
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
- River Grove 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