Lake Forest, IL Homes for Sale: Listings & Local Guide
Lake Forest runs from the Lake Michigan bluffs west past the Tri-State Tollway, with two Metra lines, a downtown built around Market Square and five local historic districts. Which side of town a home sits on shapes its rules, schools and commute.
- County
- Lake County
- ZIP codes
- 60045
- School districts
- Lake Forest 67 · Lake Forest Community High School 115 · Rondout 72 in some areas. Confirm by address
Newest homes for sale in Lake Forest
Browse active listings with Lake Forest in the listing's city field. A Lake Forest mailing address does not by itself confirm city limits or school assignment.
Search Lake Forest homes by type
Each search shows every active listing of that type, with price, bedroom and map filters.
Living in Lake Forest
Drive Sheridan Road under the oaks and you can see why Lake Forest has drawn Chicago families north since the 1850s, when the railroad arrived and the founders of Lake Forest College laid out the town.
The original plan by Almerin Hotchkiss set curving streets around the ravines on the east side, and much of that area is now the East Lake Forest Historic District. Downtown grew up around the Union Pacific North station and Market Square. West of Route 41 and out toward the Tri-State, the lots get larger, the homes get newer, and a second Metra line runs along the west side of the city. Corporate offices along the tollway, Lake Forest College and Lake Forest Hospital are among the local employers.
Our listings feed comes from MRED and updates through the day, with photos, price history and tax details for each home. You will see historic homes on the east side, condos and townhomes near downtown, and larger houses on wooded lots farther west. The sections below cover the places, neighborhoods, schools and checks that matter when you compare them.
Local highlights and attractions
Many of Lake Forest's best-known places sit between the lake and the train. A few to know:
Market Square
Designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw and opened in 1916, Market Square is often cited as one of the first planned shopping centers in the country. Shops and restaurants surround its green, steps from the Metra station.
Forest Park and the lakefront
The city's lakefront park sits on the bluff above Forest Park Beach, with paths, a boat launch area and beach access below. Living near the lake is not the same as owning lakefront.
Deerpath Golf Course
A city-owned public 18-hole course on Deerpath Road, open to residents and nonresidents.
Open lands and forest preserves
The Lake Forest Open Lands Association protects preserves across the city, including Elawa Farm. Middlefork Savanna, a Lake County Forest Preserves site, covers prairie and savanna on the west side.
Historic districts
The city has five local historic districts: East Lake Forest, Vine/Oakwood/Green Bay Road, Green Bay Road, Meadowood Dairy and Grove School. Many of the homes were designed by architects such as Howard Van Doren Shaw and David Adler, and a drive through the east side shows the range.
Gorton Community Center
A downtown community center with classes, performances and events through the year.
Lake Forest neighborhoods
Lake Forest neighborhood names are informal, so use them to start a search, then confirm the boundaries and schools for each address.
East Lake Forest
Older homes and estates on large, often wooded lots between the business district and the lake, much of it inside the East Lake Forest Historic District. Ravine and bluff lots are common.
Downtown and central Lake Forest
Condos, townhomes and older houses within walking distance of Market Square and the Union Pacific North station.
West Lake Forest
Larger homes on bigger lots west of Route 41, many in subdivisions built in the second half of the 20th century or later. This side of town is closer to the Tri-State, the west-side Metra station and Conway Farms, a private golf club that has hosted the PGA Tour's BMW Championship.
Fort Sheridan
Part of the former Army post at the south edge of the city, with converted historic buildings and newer homes. Other parts of Fort Sheridan are in Highland Park or Highwood.
Knollwood and unincorporated areas
Some homes near Lake Forest, including Knollwood, are outside city limits. They can have different schools, services and tax bills, so check before you assume an address is in the city.
Getting around
Lake Forest has stations on two Metra lines, so the side of town decides which train is closer.
Metra Union Pacific North
The Lake Forest station sits downtown by Market Square, and Fort Sheridan serves the south edge. Trains run to Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the ride is often around an hour, depending on the train.
Metra Milwaukee District North
A second Lake Forest station on the west side of the city serves the line to Chicago Union Station. Check which station is closer to the home and which line fits your destination.
I-94, Route 41 and Route 60
The Tri-State runs along the west side, US Route 41 runs north and south through the middle of the city, and Route 60 connects west toward Mundelein. Homes close to any of them trade quick access for more traffic noise.
Robert McClory Bike Path
The bike and walking trail runs along the Union Pacific tracks through Lake Forest and connects north toward Lake Bluff and south toward Highland Park.
Find a home that fits the setting
Lake Forest housing ranges from historic estates, coach houses and older homes on the east side to larger, newer houses on the west side, with condos and townhomes near downtown and converted historic homes at Fort Sheridan. Rebuilding on existing lots happens across the city, so one street can mix original homes with new construction.
Compare the setting as much as the house. A home in a historic district, one on a ravine or bluff and one on a large west-side lot come with different rules, upkeep and commutes. Each special property type brings its own maintenance needs, and homes in a local historic district or listed as a local landmark come with Historic Preservation Commission review. For any listing, review the tax history, any association dues and the full monthly cost of that property.
Lake Forest area schools
Most of Lake Forest is served by Lake Forest School District 67 for elementary and middle school and Lake Forest Community High School District 115 for high school. Some addresses with a Lake Forest mailing address, including unincorporated areas, are in Rondout School District 72 or Lake Bluff District 65. A city name, ZIP code or nearby school does not confirm which schools serve a home.
Before you rely on a school, verify the specific property address with the district.
- Elementary and middle school
Lake Forest School District 67
District 67 serves addresses inside the City of Lake Forest. Cherokee, Everett and Sheridan Elementary serve kindergarten through fourth grade by attendance area, and all fifth through eighth graders attend Deer Path Middle School, which has East and West campuses.
District 67 and 115 - High school
Lake Forest Community High School District 115
District 115 runs Lake Forest High School, which serves Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Knollwood.
Lake Forest Schools - Kindergarten through eighth grade
Rondout School District 72
A one-school K–8 district on Bradley Road serving parts of unincorporated Lake Forest and nearby communities. Its graduates generally attend Libertyville High School, so confirm the high school district for any Rondout address.
Rondout District 72
Five checks worth making before an offer
Confirm the city, not just the mailing address
Knollwood, Fort Sheridan and unincorporated pockets sit beside Lake Forest. Confirm the municipal boundary for the property with the city or Lake County, because it can change schools, services and the tax bill.
Find out whether the home is in a historic district
Lake Forest has five local historic districts and individual local landmarks. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews demolitions, new construction, additions and exterior changes to those properties, so ask the city before you plan a project.
Ask what the lot allows
Ravine, bluff and steep-slope lots can limit building, grading and tree removal. Ask the city about setbacks and building scale before you plan around a remodel or rebuild.
Bring the right inspectors
Older homes, coach houses and lakefront property need specialists for roofs, masonry, drainage and bluff stability. Ask about water history, sump pumps and sewer lines, and review the seller's disclosures.
Pull the actual tax bill
Get the most recent bill for the property from the Lake County Treasurer and check which exemptions apply. Add insurance, any association dues and lot upkeep to compare the full monthly cost.
Lake Forest, IL REALTORS®
When searching for Lake Forest, IL homes for sale, buyers and sellers turn to The Spot Real Estate Team for local guidance. We can tell you whether a listing with a Lake Forest address is in the city, Knollwood or unincorporated Lake County, which school districts serve it, and whether it sits in one of the city's historic districts before you plan any changes.
On historic, ravine and lakefront homes, we compare sales with attention to lot setting, architecture, condition and the age of major systems. We can arrange structural, masonry, sewer and specialty inspections and connect you with local lenders for conventional, VA, FHA or jumbo financing. For sellers, we photograph the setting as carefully as the house, shoot drone video of wooded and lakefront lots and market listings across Chicago-area portals. Thinking about selling? Use the contact button below to request a free, personalized home valuation.
Lake Forest real estate: buyer FAQs
What are the property taxes in Lake Forest?
Pull the most recent bill for the specific property from the Lake County Treasurer. The bill depends on the assessed value, the combined rates of the taxing bodies for that address and any exemptions, so two similar homes can have different bills.
Are there historic districts to consider in Lake Forest?
Yes. The city has five local historic districts: East Lake Forest, Vine/Oakwood/Green Bay Road, Green Bay Road, Meadowood Dairy and Grove School, plus individual local landmarks. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews demolitions, new construction, additions and exterior changes to those properties.
What home styles are common in East and West Lake Forest?
East Lake Forest has older homes and estates on large, wooded lots, many in brick, stone or timber, some with original coach houses. West Lake Forest has more homes built in the second half of the 20th century and later, usually on larger lots in subdivisions.
Which schools serve Lake Forest homes?
Addresses inside the city are in Lake Forest School District 67 for kindergarten through eighth grade and Lake Forest Community High School District 115. Some nearby unincorporated addresses are in Rondout District 72 or Lake Bluff District 65. Confirm the assigned schools for the exact address with each district.
Is every home with a Lake Forest address inside the city?
Not always. Knollwood and other unincorporated areas use Lake Forest mailing addresses. Confirm the municipal boundary for the specific property with the city or Lake County.
How long is the train ride to downtown Chicago?
Lake Forest has stations on Metra's Union Pacific North line, which runs to Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the Milwaukee District North line, which runs to Union Station. The ride is often around an hour, depending on the station and train. Check the current Metra schedule.
Can I tear down or remodel an older Lake Forest home?
Often, but homes in a local historic district or listed as a local landmark need Historic Preservation Commission review for demolition, additions and exterior changes, and ravine or bluff lots have their own rules. Ask the city what applies to the address before you make an offer that depends on it.
Communities near Lake Forest
Compare homes in the neighboring towns.
- Lake Bluff
- Highland Park
- Libertyville
- Highwood
- Mettawa
- Green Oaks
- Bannockburn
Look at Lake Forest homes with a local guide
Tell us which homes interest you and what matters in your daily routine. We can help you compare the property details, identify questions for the right public offices or documents, and plan the next showing.
Talk to SPOT about buyingSelling a home in Lake Forest?
Full-service representation. Just a 1% listing commission. Keep more of the equity you've built.