Riverdale · Cook County · IL
Homes for sale in
Riverdale.
- Active listings
- 31
- Median list
- $130K
- Avg time on market
- 11 days
- Sold · last year
- 100
Active listings
31 homes on the market
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About the community
Living in Riverdale.
Riverdale is a village of about 10,663 residents in southern Cook County, Illinois, sitting on the south bank of the Little Calumet River roughly 18 miles south of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Chicago, Dolton, and Dixmoor, placing it squarely in the Chicago Southland. The village is served by two Metra Electric District stations, Riverdale at 137th Street and Ivanhoe at 144th Street, giving direct rail access to Millennium Station downtown. Elementary students attend Dolton School District 148 and General George S. Patton School District 133, and high schoolers feed into Thornton Township High School District 205. Commuters reach the Loop by car in roughly 27 minutes via I-94, and the 137-acre Whistler Woods forest preserve lines the river within the village.
At a glance
~10,700 residents
Riverdale had a population of about 10,663 at the 2020 census in southern Cook County.
Two Metra Electric stations
The Riverdale and Ivanhoe stations on the Metra Electric District connect the village to Millennium Station downtown.
District 205 high schools
Elementary students attend Dolton SD 148 and Patton SD 133; high schoolers attend Thornton Township HSD 205.
Whistler Woods
A 137-acre Cook County forest preserve lines the Little Calumet River and anchors the Major Taylor Trail.
Affordable market
A median home value of about 85,000 makes Riverdale one of Cook County's most affordable markets.
Median income ~$38k
The median household income is about 38,355 according to recent census figures.
Bishop Ford Freeway
Interstate 94 runs along the village's east side, putting the Loop about 27 minutes away by car.
Industrial heritage
Home to the Acme Steel plant from 1918, a center of Chicago-area steelmaking for decades.
What’s close
Riverdale occupies about 3.75 square miles in southern Cook County along the Little Calumet River, bordered by Chicago to the northeast and Dolton and Dixmoor among other Southland communities, with two Metra Electric stations and quick access to I-94.
- Townships and county
- Riverdale lies in Thornton and Calumet townships within Cook County, Illinois.
- Metra Electric stations
- The village has two Metra Electric District stations, Riverdale at 137th Street and Ivanhoe at 144th Street and Tracy Avenue.
- Major roads
- The Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) runs along the village's east side, linking Riverdale to downtown Chicago and the south suburbs.
- Little Calumet River and Whistler Woods
- The river forms the village's spine, with the 137-acre Whistler Woods forest preserve and the Major Taylor Trail running along it.
- Schools
- Elementary education is split between Dolton SD 148 and General George S. Patton SD 133, with high school served by Thornton Township HSD 205.
- Neighbors
- Riverdale borders Chicago to the northeast, Dolton to the east and south, and Dixmoor to the west, near Harvey and Blue Island.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in Riverdale centers on a compact, walkable street grid of modest single-family homes in a community where the median home value sits around 85,000. Many residents commute to jobs in Chicago and across the Southland, using the two Metra Electric stations or the Bishop Ford Freeway, with downtown reachable in roughly 27 minutes by car. Pace operates bus routes through the village, connecting Riverdale to destinations across the Chicago Southland. It is a predominantly residential community with deep roots and a strong sense of local identity, reflected in its nickname, The Dale.
Outdoor recreation in Riverdale is shaped by the Little Calumet River and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Whistler Woods offers 137 acres of riverfront woodland, picnic groves, and birding, and it anchors the south end of the 7.6-mile Major Taylor Trail. At Whistler Woods the Major Taylor Trail connects to the Cal-Sag Trail, extending the network of paved paths available to residents. Everyday shopping and services are supplemented by neighboring Dolton and the broader Southland, all within a short drive of the village.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Riverdale 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 Riverdale.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D148Grades PreK-8
Dolton School District 148
Schools serving the area
- Lincoln Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- Riverdale School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
Serves much of Riverdale plus Dolton for elementary and middle grades. Confirm the assigned school by address.
- D133Grades PreK-8
General George S. Patton School District 133
Schools serving the area
- General George S. Patton School
A small single-school elementary district located in Riverdale. Part of the village falls in this district rather than D148.
- D205Grades 9-12
Thornton Township High School District 205
Schools serving the area
- Thornton Township High School (Harvey)
- Thornridge High School (Dolton)
- Thornwood High School (South Holland)
Covers Riverdale along with Dolton, Harvey, South Holland, and other Thornton Township communities for high school.
Around town
What there is to do in Riverdale.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Whistler Woods Forest Preserve
A 137-acre Cook County forest preserve along the Little Calumet River with picnic groves, birding, and trail access.
- Parks
Major Taylor Trail
A 7.6-mile paved trail running from Dan Ryan Woods south to Whistler Woods in Riverdale.
- Family
Ivanhoe Metra Station
A Metra Electric District station at 144th Street and Tracy Avenue with parking and direct service to downtown Chicago.
- Culture
Riverdale Metra Station
A Metra Electric District station at 137th Street serving the north end of the village.
- Parks
Cal-Sag Trail
A regional paved trail that connects to the Major Taylor Trail at Whistler Woods for walking and cycling.
- Culture
Village of Riverdale
The municipal government and civic center for village services and community information.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Riverdale.
- Stations: Riverdale, Ivanhoe
- Terminal: Millennium Station
- Distance: 18 miles to downtown Chicago
- Routes: I-94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) · Halsted Street · 138th Street
- Chicago Loop: ~27 min
- O'Hare Airport: ~45 min
By the numbers
Riverdale taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
5.15%
effective avg
Sales tax
10.25%
combined
Median sold price
$147,500
MRED · last 12 mo (100 sales)
Median household income
$38,355
ACS
How Riverdale got here
A bit of history.
The Village of Riverdale was incorporated in 1893, taking its name from its position on the Little Calumet River. The earliest settlement in the area traces to 1835, when David Perriam established a small community to operate a toll bridge across the Little Calumet. In 1904 the English former glucose manufacturer Charles Pope purchased property on the south bank of the river, where a beet sugar factory with access to the Illinois Central tracks opened in 1905. That sugar enterprise changed hands over the following decades and was eventually replaced in 1947 by the Chromium Mining and Smelting Corporation, reflecting the village's steady shift toward heavy industry.
Riverdale became a center of Chicago-area steelmaking when Acme Steel opened a new plant in the village in 1918, drawn by the Calumet region's rail network, Great Lakes ore transport, and nearby coal and limestone. By the end of the 1950s the company had completed its move from Chicago to Riverdale, and the plant operated for decades under successor owners including Interlake and Cleveland-Cliffs. Today the 137-acre Whistler Woods forest preserve preserves a natural stretch of the Little Calumet River within the village and anchors the south end of the Major Taylor Trail.
The questions buyers actually ask
Riverdale FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Riverdale. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What school districts serve Riverdale, IL?
- Riverdale's elementary and middle school students are served by two districts depending on address, Dolton School District 148 and General George S. Patton School District 133. For high school, students attend Thornton Township High School District 205, which operates Thornton, Thornridge, and Thornwood high schools. Because the elementary boundaries are split, families should confirm their assigned school by address with the district before enrolling.
- How long is the commute from Riverdale to downtown Chicago?
- Riverdale sits about 18 miles south of downtown Chicago, and the drive to the Loop takes roughly 27 minutes via the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) in typical conditions. The village also has two Metra Electric District stations, Riverdale and Ivanhoe, with direct rail service to Millennium Station downtown. The Metra Electric line is a reliable option for commuters who prefer to avoid driving and parking in the city.
- Why are property taxes in Riverdale so high?
- Like much of south Cook County, Riverdale carries a high effective property tax rate, with a median around 5.15 percent, well above the Illinois median. This reflects the way local school district levies and other taxing-district charges are spread across a relatively low total property base. The upside is that home prices are very low, so the actual dollar bills stay modest in absolute terms. Homeowners who believe their assessment is too high can appeal with the Cook County Assessor's Office.
- What is there to do in Riverdale?
- The village's standout attraction is Whistler Woods, a 137-acre Forest Preserves of Cook County site along the Little Calumet River with picnic groves, birding, and river views. Whistler Woods anchors the south end of the 7.6-mile Major Taylor Trail and connects to the regional Cal-Sag Trail, so it is a hub for walking and cycling. Everyday dining and shopping are supplemented by neighboring Dolton and the broader Chicago Southland, all within a short drive.
- Is Riverdale an affordable place to buy a home?
- Yes, Riverdale is one of the more affordable markets in Cook County, with a median home value around 85,000. That low entry point makes it attractive to first-time buyers and investors, though buyers should factor in the high effective property tax rate when budgeting. Because values are modest, working with a local agent who knows the block-by-block market is especially helpful.
- Which Metra line serves Riverdale?
- Riverdale is served by the Metra Electric District, which runs north to Millennium Station in downtown Chicago. The village has two stations, Riverdale at 137th Street and Ivanhoe at 144th Street and Tracy Avenue. Ivanhoe is in fare zone 2 and is about 18 miles from the downtown terminal, with parking available on site.
- Who is the real estate agent for Riverdale?
- Joe Keegan is the local licensed Illinois real estate broker who covers Riverdale in Riverdale, IL through Subdiview, a neighborhood-first home search for the Chicago suburbs and collar counties. Joe prices and negotiates from the live MRED sold comps for Riverdale specifically, not national averages, and can help you buy or sell here. Reach Joe at 224-385-8779 or joe@joekeeganhomes.com.
Nearby
Towns next to Riverdale.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Riverdale.
Your local agent
Joe knows Riverdale
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
- Riverdale 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
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