Willow Springs · Cook County · IL
Homes for sale in
Willow Springs.
- Active listings
- 6
- Median list
- $465K
- Avg time on market
- 69 days
- Sold · last year
- 0
Photo: Crosbiesmith / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Active listings
6 homes on the market
About the community
Living in Willow Springs.
Willow Springs sits on the banks of the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in southwest Cook County, with a small slice crossing into DuPage County. It is a small village, with a 2020 census population of 5,857, and it is defined as much by open space as by its neighborhoods, sitting adjacent to the 15,000-acre Palos Forest Preserves and a short distance from Waterfall Glen in DuPage. The historic Illinois and Michigan Canal runs through the valley here, and the John Husar I&M Canal Trail and the Centennial Trail give residents direct access to miles of routes. Metra's Heritage Corridor line stops at the Willow Springs station along Willow Boulevard, providing weekday commuter rail service to Chicago Union Station, 17.5 miles to the northeast. The housing stock runs from older homes near the Archer Avenue corridor to newer subdivisions on the wooded bluffs above the river, and the homeownership rate is high at about 84.6 percent.
At a glance
Small village, ~5,900 residents
The 2020 census counted 5,857 residents in about 4.25 square miles, with a population density near 1,377 per square mile.
Metra Heritage Corridor
The Willow Springs station sits on Metra's Heritage Corridor line, 17.5 miles from Chicago Union Station, with weekday-only service.
Palos Forest Preserves
The village adjoins the 15,000-acre Palos Forest Preserves, the largest concentration of preserved land in the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Waterfall Glen nearby
The 2,503-acre Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, with its Rocky Glen waterfall and a 9.5-mile main trail, lies just across into DuPage County.
Des Plaines River and I&M Canal
The village sits on the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, with the John Husar I&M Canal Trail and Centennial Trail running through the corridor.
Schools split by the river
Students south of the river attend Willow Springs SD 108 and those north attend Pleasantdale SD 107, feeding into different high schools.
High homeownership
The homeownership rate is reported at about 84.6 percent, well above the national average, with a typical home value in the mid $300,000s.
What’s close
Willow Springs runs along the Archer Avenue (IL 171) corridor in the Des Plaines River valley, hemmed by forest preserves on most sides. The Metra station, the canal trails, and the Palos preserves define daily life more than any commercial district.
- Palos Forest Preserves
- The village adjoins the 15,000-acre Palos preserve system, which carries roughly 42 miles of interconnected unpaved trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use.
- Willow Springs Metra station
- The Heritage Corridor station is along Willow Boulevard beneath the Gilbert Avenue Bridge, with weekday commuter service to Chicago Union Station.
- Centennial Trail and I&M Canal Trail
- The Centennial Trail runs from Willow Springs Road southwest, paralleling the John Husar I&M Canal Trail within the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor.
- Des Plaines River and Ship Canal
- The village sits on the banks of both waterways, which run alongside the rail line and canal trails through the valley.
- Archer Avenue corridor
- Archer Avenue (IL 171) is the village's main commercial spine, home to its restaurants and the Old Willow Shopping Center near the Palos preserves.
- Columbia Woods
- This Cook County preserve sits along the Des Plaines River at Archer Avenue and Willow Springs Road, with biking trails and a canoe launch.
What it’s actually like to live here
Living in Willow Springs means living in a small village surrounded by open space. With fewer than 6,000 residents and a land area of just over four square miles, much of which abuts forest preserve, the village has a quieter, low-density feel than the denser suburbs to its north and east. Most workers drive, with a reported average commute of about 27.5 minutes and roughly 77 percent driving alone, though the Metra station gives weekday commuters a rail option into the city. Day-to-day life is anchored along Archer Avenue, where the village's restaurants, shops, and the Willow Springs Community Center are located.
Outdoor recreation is central to the appeal. The Palos Forest Preserves and Columbia and Pulaski Woods put miles of trails, the Des Plaines River, and a canoe launch within the village, and Waterfall Glen is a short drive across into DuPage. Housing ranges from older homes near the river and the Archer corridor to newer subdivisions built on the wooded bluffs above the valley. The homeownership rate is high at about 84.6 percent, which points to a buyer base of owner-occupant households drawn to the open space, the small-village scale, and the commuter access.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Willow Springs 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 Willow Springs.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D108Grades K-8
Willow Springs School District 108
Schools serving the area
- Willow Springs School
Serves students living south of the Des Plaines River and the canals. SD 108 students continue to high school at Argo Community High School (District 217) in Summit or Amos Alonzo Stagg High School (Consolidated High School District 230) in Palos Hills, depending on the attendance area.
- D107Grades K-8
Pleasantdale School District 107
Schools serving the area
- Pleasantdale Elementary School
- Pleasantdale Middle School
Serves students living north of the river. All District 107 students continue to Lyons Township High School (District 204) in La Grange and Western Springs. Confirm the district and high school feeder by exact address.
From the neighborhood
Around Willow Springs
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
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@danirenee17Around town
What there is to do in Willow Springs.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
The 2,503-acre DuPage County preserve just southwest of the village features the Rocky Glen waterfall and a 9.5-mile crushed-limestone main trail used by hikers, cyclists, and skiers.
- Parks
Pulaski Woods (Palos Forest Preserves)
Forming the western third of the 15,000-acre Palos Preserves, Pulaski Woods offers rugged terrain with trails popular for trail running and mountain biking.
- Parks
Columbia Woods
This Cook County preserve sits along the Des Plaines River at Archer Avenue and Willow Springs Road, with biking trails and a canoe launch into the river.
- Family
Centennial Trail
The paved Centennial Trail runs from Willow Springs Road southwest through the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, paralleling the John Husar I&M Canal Trail.
- Food & Drink
The Irish Legend
A Dublin pub-style restaurant and bar at 8933 S Archer Avenue, set in a building dating to the 1920s.
- Family
Willow Springs Community Center and parks
The village community center at 8156 Archer Avenue anchors local parks and facilities, including a seasonal splash pad and a dog park.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Willow Springs.
MetraHC line
- Stations: Willow Springs
- Terminal: Chicago Union Station
- Distance: 17.5 miles to downtown Chicago
DriveBy car
- Routes: IL 171 / Archer Avenue · Willow Springs Road · I-294 (Tri-State Tollway)
- O'Hare Airport: ~30 min
- Chicago Loop: ~31 min
By the numbers
Willow Springs taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.28%
effective avg
Sales tax
10.00%
combined
Median sold price
$378,500
MRED · last 12 mo (72 sales)
Median household income
$103,583
ACS
How Willow Springs got here
A bit of history.
The area that became Willow Springs grew up alongside the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which opened in 1848 and ran through the Des Plaines River valley. The village takes its name from the natural springs along the Des Plaines River, where canal boats historically stopped for water. Digging the canal through this corridor exposed large quantities of dolomite limestone, and quarrying became a defining early industry of the I&M Canal towns of the valley, including the nearby communities of Lemont, Lockport, and Joliet. The village's location on the river and canal made it a working part of the canal economy in the nineteenth century.
Willow Springs was founded in 1892. It has remained a small village, with the 2020 census recording 5,857 residents across a total area of about 4.25 square miles, of which roughly 4.15 square miles is land. The railroad arrived early, with the Willow Springs station dating to 1870 on what was the Chicago and Alton line, now Metra's Heritage Corridor. The tracks here run parallel to both the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, a reminder of how tightly the village's development followed the river and canal corridor.
The questions buyers actually ask
Willow Springs FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Willow Springs. If yours isn't here, text 815-355-0582, same-day reply.
- Which school districts serve Willow Springs?
- Willow Springs is split by the Des Plaines River. Students living south of the river and the canals attend Willow Springs School District 108, while those living north attend Pleasantdale School District 107. The high school feeders differ too: District 107 students go on to Lyons Township High School (District 204), while District 108 students attend either Argo Community High School (District 217) in Summit or Amos Alonzo Stagg High School (District 230) in Palos Hills depending on the attendance area. Confirm the specific district and feeder for any individual address.
- What is the commute like from Willow Springs?
- The Willow Springs Metra station is on the Heritage Corridor line, 17.5 miles from Chicago Union Station, but service is weekday only with a handful of inbound morning and outbound evening trains. Most residents drive, with a reported average commute of about 27.5 minutes and roughly 77 percent driving alone. By car, downtown Chicago is roughly 24 miles and O'Hare is about 23 miles via I-294, each around 30 minutes in typical conditions.
- How high are property taxes in Willow Springs?
- Willow Springs is in Cook County, and property taxes are high relative to national norms. The median effective property tax rate is reported at about 2.28 percent. Rates vary within the village based on school district levies and special service areas, so pull the actual tax bill for any specific address before writing an offer.
- What outdoor recreation is near Willow Springs?
- The village adjoins the 15,000-acre Palos Forest Preserves, including Pulaski Woods and Columbia Woods, which offer trails, the Des Plaines River, and a canoe launch. The Centennial Trail and the John Husar I&M Canal Trail run through the corridor, and the 2,503-acre Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, with its Rocky Glen waterfall and 9.5-mile trail, sits a short drive across into DuPage County.
- How big is Willow Springs and what defines it?
- Willow Springs is a small village. The 2020 census recorded 5,857 residents across about 4.25 square miles. It is defined by its setting in the Des Plaines River valley, its location on the river and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and the surrounding forest preserves and canal trails. The village's name comes from the natural springs along the Des Plaines River.
- What kind of homes are in Willow Springs?
- The housing stock ranges from older homes near the Archer Avenue corridor and the river to newer subdivisions on the wooded bluffs above the valley. The homeownership rate is high at about 84.6 percent, and the typical home value sits in the mid $300,000s, with figures varying by source and methodology. Inventory is limited given the village's small size, so buyers should be ready to move when the right home lists.
Nearby
Towns next to Willow Springs.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Willow Springs.
Your local agent
Joe knows Willow Springs
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
- Willow Springs 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
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