Crystal Lake is the clear leader for an outstanding quality of life.
In Crystal Lake, discover an array of housing options, excellent schools, two Metra stations, a top-ranked park district and an historic downtown.
Abundant Outdoor Recreational Opportunities
With 1,600 acres of parks and open space, 230-acre Crystal Lake and Three Oaks Recreational Park, Crystal Lake attracts people looking for an active lifestyle, access to nature and excellent quality of life.
Quick and Easy Access
A community of 40,000 in northwest suburban Illinois, Crystal Lake is easy to access from Chicago, the Midwest and beyond.
30 miles northwest of O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois
50 miles from Chicagoland Regional Airport in Rockford, Illinois
70 miles from the General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accessible by two Chicago Metra commuter train stations and the Pace Bus
Quality Education
Crystal Lake offers high-quality learning opportunities. Elementary School District 47 and Community High School District 155 are two of the best public school systems in the region. Crystal Lake is home to McHenry County Community College, as well as Columbia College - Crystal Lake, a private liberal arts and science college offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Historic Downtown
Stroll through shops and restaurants in the historic downtown, steps away from the Crystal Lake Metra Station with plenty of parking. Find an abundance of locally owned shops and restaurants, have a picnic at Depot Park and enjoy a show at the Raue Center for the Arts.
The Downtown, a premier Main Street community, hosts fun, family events including the Farmers’ Market, Johnny Appleseed Festival, the Festival of Lights Parade and more.
Crystal Lake is Always Moving Forward.
Read the stories below to learn about new developments – from healthcare to retail to housing – coming to Crystal Lake.
Growing Healthcare Hub
Crystal Lake is a growing hub for healthcare and medical services, including representation from all major medical groups such as Advocate Northwestern and now home to the Mercyhealth hospital and multi-speciality medical campus.
Vibrant Mixed-Use Development
The new mixed-use development project called Water’s Edge will transform Crystal Court, a tired shopping center, into a vibrant neighborhood, offering a cohesive mix of luxury apartments, townhomes, retail, sit-down restaurants, entertainment uses.
An Array of New Housing Options
Crystal Lake has a variety of housing options, including apartments, condos, single-family homes and active adult (55+) communities. Housing continues to grow with The Springs (a luxury apartment complex), Church Street Apartments (a housing development in an old church), Woodlore Estates (a new Lennar subdivision with quality amenities), The Enclave (99-unit rental apartments and townhomes in Downtown Crystal Lake), and Redwood (304 ranch-style rental townhomes to the Route 31 corridor).