Wilmington · Will County · IL
Homes for sale in
Wilmington.
- Active listings
- 31
- Median list
- $310K
- Avg time on market
- 9 days
- Sold · last year
- 3
Active listings
31 homes on the market
About the community
Living in Wilmington.
Wilmington sits on the east bank of the Kankakee River in southern Will County, about 60 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and roughly 15 miles south of Joliet. Locals call it the Island City because a large island in the Kankakee River, much of it city parkland, splits the river into a main channel and a smaller one that once powered the town's mills. Wilmington grew up along Historic U.S. Route 66, which followed present-day Illinois Route 53 through downtown, and it is still a beloved stop for road-trippers thanks to the Gemini Giant, an astronaut statue at South Island Park. Just to the north lies Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a sprawling restored prairie that is home to the largest bison herd in the state. With around 5,600 residents, a walkable downtown, and quick access to Interstate 55, Wilmington blends small-town character with an easy drive toward the suburbs.
At a glance
~5,664 residents
Population 5,664 at the 2020 census, a small river city in southern Will County.
Wilmington CUSD 209U
Served by Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U, home of the Wilmington High School Wildcats.
Island City on the Kankakee
A large island in the Kankakee River, split into North and South Island Parks, gives Wilmington its nickname.
Route 66 and the Gemini Giant
A classic Historic Route 66 stop, home to the famous Gemini Giant astronaut statue, now standing at South Island Park.
Midewin prairie nearby
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie sits just north of town with 30-plus miles of trails and the state's largest bison herd.
Interstate 55 access
I-55 runs along the edge of town for a fast route toward Joliet and Chicago.
Median home value ~$184,000
Ownwell reports a median home value around $184,035, with active-market sale prices running higher.
Walkable downtown
A historic downtown along Water Street with roughly 2,300 households.
What’s close
Wilmington's setting on the Kankakee River in southern Will County gives it riverfront parks, a Route 66 main street, and quick access to both Interstate 55 and one of the Midwest's largest restored prairies.
- Gemini Giant and Route 66
- The helmeted astronaut statue, now at the entrance to South Island Park, marks Wilmington's place on Historic Route 66.
- Kankakee River and Island Parks
- A large island in the river, split by Route 53 into North Island Park and South Island Park, is the source of the Island City nickname.
- Downtown Water Street
- The historic core around Route 53 and Water Street includes the landmark Eagle Hotel and a downtown mural for the Route 66 centennial.
- Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
- Just north of town along Route 53, with a Welcome Center, 30-plus miles of trails, and the state's largest bison herd.
- Interstate 55
- Runs along the edge of town for fast access toward Joliet and the wider Chicago metro.
- Wilmington schools
- Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U serves the city and surrounding area.
What it’s actually like to live here
Life in Wilmington revolves around the Kankakee River and the outdoors. The island parks in the middle of town offer riverfront green space, and the river itself draws anglers, paddlers, and boaters, while the city's long-running Catfish Days festival celebrates that river heritage every summer. Just north of town, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie spreads across thousands of publicly accessible acres with more than 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, plus a bison overlook, making it one of the most distinctive natural attractions in the Chicago region.
Day to day, Wilmington keeps a genuine small-town feel. The walkable downtown along Route 53 and Water Street mixes Route 66 nostalgia with local shops and restaurants, and the relocated Gemini Giant keeps a steady stream of road-trippers passing through. Families are served by a single, community-centered school district, the Wilmington Wildcats, and the median household income sits around $66,500. With Interstate 55 at the edge of town, residents get the quiet of a river town while staying within an easy drive of Joliet's jobs and shopping.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Wilmington 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 Wilmington.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- 209UGrades PreK-12
Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U
Schools serving the area
- Wilmington High School
Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U serves the city of Wilmington and surrounding areas in southern Will County across four schools. Wilmington High School, home of the Wildcats, is the district's only high school. Confirm the assigned elementary and middle school per address.
Around town
What there is to do in Wilmington.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Culture
Gemini Giant
Wilmington's famous Route 66 astronaut statue, now standing at the entrance to South Island Park after decades outside the Launching Pad drive-in.
- Parks
South Island Park
The city's signature island park on the Kankakee River, with riverfront green space and the relocated Gemini Giant.
- Parks
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
A restored prairie with more than 30 miles of trails and the state's largest bison herd, just north of town.
- Family
Midewin Bison Overlook
A self-guided trail leads to a bison overlook with benches and viewing scopes, reachable on foot, bike, or horseback.
- Food & Drink
Downtown Wilmington and Catfish Days
The Route 66 downtown along Water Street hosts shops, restaurants, and the city's annual Catfish Days river festival.
- Family
Cinder Ridge Golf Course
A local golf course located off Interstate 55 in Wilmington.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Wilmington.
DriveBy car
- Routes: I-55 · Illinois Route 53 (Historic Route 66) · Illinois Route 102 · Illinois Route 113
- Chicago Loop: ~66 min
- O'Hare Airport: ~78 min
By the numbers
Wilmington taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.22%
effective avg
Sales tax
7.00%
combined
Median sold price
$310,000
MRED · last 12 mo (3 sales)
Median household income
$66,538
ACS
How Wilmington got here
A bit of history.
Wilmington's roots trace to the 1830s, when Thomas Cox purchased land near Alden's Island in 1834 and built a sawmill, corn cracker, gristmill, and carding machine, all powered by water wheels on a mill race off the Kankakee River. The settlement was founded around 1836, briefly carried the name Winchester, and was renamed Wilmington in 1838 because another Winchester already existed in Illinois. It was organized as a village in 1854 and later incorporated as a city.
The large island in the Kankakee River within the city limits gave Wilmington its enduring nickname, the Island City, and the smaller river channel powered the town's early mills. In the 20th century Wilmington became a classic stop on U.S. Route 66, which ran through downtown along what is now Illinois Route 53, anchored by landmarks such as the historic Eagle Hotel at Route 53 and Water Street. In 1960 a local drive-in was rebranded the Launching Pad and outfitted with a helmeted astronaut statue that a naming contest dubbed the Gemini Giant, which became one of the most photographed roadside attractions on the Mother Road. In 2024 the Gemini Giant was relocated to the entrance of South Island Park, and a downtown mural was added ahead of Route 66's 2026 centennial.
The questions buyers actually ask
Wilmington FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Wilmington. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What school district serves Wilmington?
- Wilmington is served by Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U, whose only high school is Wilmington High School, home of the Wildcats. The district enrolls roughly 1,300 students across four schools.
- How long is the commute from Wilmington to Chicago?
- It is about 60 miles to downtown Chicago. Driving to the Loop takes roughly an hour to an hour and 20 minutes depending on traffic, and O'Hare is about an hour and 18 minutes by car via I-55. Wilmington has no Metra station, so the nearest commuter rail is the Heritage Corridor line out of Joliet, about 15 miles north.
- What are property taxes like in Wilmington?
- Wilmington's median effective property tax rate is about 2.22 percent, with a median annual tax bill near $3,800. That is higher than the national median but slightly below the Illinois state median rate. Always pull the actual tax bill for a specific address before writing an offer.
- Why is Wilmington called the Island City, and does it flood?
- The nickname comes from a large island in the Kankakee River within the city, much of it parkland, which splits the river into two channels. Because Wilmington sits directly on the river, low-lying riverfront areas can be flood-prone, so buyers near the water should check FEMA flood zones and flood-insurance requirements for the specific property.
- What is the Route 66 connection and the Gemini Giant?
- Wilmington was a classic stop on U.S. Route 66, which ran through downtown along present-day Illinois Route 53. Its most famous landmark is the Gemini Giant, a helmeted astronaut statue that stood outside the Launching Pad drive-in for decades and was moved to the entrance of South Island Park in 2024 ahead of Route 66's 2026 centennial.
- What is there to do outdoors near Wilmington?
- The Kankakee River and the island parks offer fishing, paddling, and riverfront recreation, and the town hosts the annual Catfish Days festival. Just north of town, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie has more than 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding plus a bison overlook to see the state's largest bison herd.
Nearby
Towns next to Wilmington.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Wilmington.
Your local agent
Joe knows Wilmington
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
- Wilmington 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