Woodstock, Illinois
Homes for Sale
Notable For
The entire downtown area of Woodstock has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was used as a location in the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. The buildings in the downtown area create a unique visual narrative and have been well-preserved through the decades. Local pride has played a role in keeping the downtown looking as good as it does, and these efforts have not gone unnoticed. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named the downtown as a Distinctive Designation, and the White House named it as a Preserve America Community. Of note is the circa 1857 Old McHenry County Courthouse and the 1889 Woodstock Opera House, both of which are fully restored to original appearance.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Woodstock is slightly above the U.S. average and housing costs are the largest expense a Woodstock resident faces. However, the housing stock tends to be reasonably priced and property taxes are much lower than communities to the east. There's a wide variety of housing stock available, and a homeowner-to-be can find everything from mid-century ranch homes to horse properties within the town's limits.
Transportation
Commuters will find that they spend more time in the car getting to their destination due to the fact there's not a lot of public transit in Woodstock. Pace operates one bus route that circulates around major destinations in town including the Metra Woodstock Station and McHenry City Hall. Metra has a station on Church Street that runs on the Union Pacific Northwest line (UP-NW). This line travels to the last stop on the line in Harvard to the northeast and heads southeast to Downtown Chicago. Route 14 is a major roadway that travels northwest to southeast and Route 47 runs north to south. It travels over the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) to the south and gives access to jobs in the Golden Corridor to the east.
Schools
Students living in Woodstock attend schools in the Woodstock Community Unit School District 200. There are six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Woodstock North High School rates an eight out of ten on Great Schools and Woodstock High School receives a nine out of ten. Three elementary schools rate six out of ten. Some elementary schools are newer and ready to meet the modern needs of students, but students attending the older schools get the same quality education and learn using the latest technology for learning.
Attractions
Woodstock is full of activities that reflect its semi-rural setting without feeling like it's been left in the past. There are activities that include band concerts held in the downtown square, harvest fest, craft shows, farmer's markets, a folk festival and a music fest. Go berry or apple picking at one of the many orchards located right outside of town and get fresh fruit for dessert or canning. Head to the Lighting of the Square to celebrate the opening of the holiday season and don't miss the Christmas Parade that follows shortly afterward. And last, but not least, don't miss Groundhog Day to find out if the local groundhog will see his or her shadow.