Last Updated on: 5th February 2024, 01:36 pm
You’ll live large in Lake of the Woods! Lake of the Woods is a census-designated place, not a formal neighborhood of Mahomet. However, many people think of it as a neighborhood of Mahomet because it shares borders and public services with Mahomet IL.
Lake of the Woods Mahomet is best known for its nature preserve, which is one of the top places for outdoor activities in the state. It’s also a nice place to live, with safe streets, great schools, and a quiet and kid-friendly atmosphere.
But before you start the process of moving to Lake of the Woods, you should learn a little about living in Lake of the Woods. Here’s what you should know about this peaceful community!
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Where Is Lake of the Woods?
Lake of the Woods is northeast of downtown Mahomet IL; it is 2.7 miles from Lake of the Woods to Mahomet IL, creating a commute of six minutes. Mahomet borders it to the north, west, and south, with farmland and unincorporated land in the east. How big is Lake of the Woods? The community covers 1.77 square miles. The main Lake of the Woods zip code is 61853.
The community contains Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, which covers nearly 900 acres. It borders the Sangamon River and Lake of the Woods. The community also contains a few other smaller lakes. Despite its proximity to nature preserves, green spaces, and lakes, most of the CDP is a well-developed suburban community with a few small businesses.
The Champaign County Area Rural Transit System (C-CARTS) provides curb-to-curb services for people living in Lake of the Woods. Most people living in and moving to Lake of the Woods Mahomet use their cars to get around. Interstate 74 is just south of the community and provides access to Champaign IL and Urbana IL.
Lake of the Woods Map
You can use this Lake of the Woods Mahomet map to find great homes for sale, restaurants, and attractions.
Lake of the Woods History and Overview
Lake of the Woods was largely undeveloped land until the 1900s. The eponymous lake became a popular spot amongst residents in villages in Champaign County for swimming and sunbathing. In 1948, the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve opened to the public and immediately became a popular spot for outdoor activities. In the 1970s, public beaches on the lake closed permanently, but the nature preserve remained open. Golf courses and other attractions also opened in the area and became popular amongst locals.
Homes were built near the preserve, forming the census-designated community of today. Lake of the Woods demographics include:
- Population: 2,297
- Median household income: $62,432
- Educational attainment: 98.2% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 39.4% have a bachelor’s degree
- Median age: 33.9
- Foreign-born population: 1%
- Racial composition: 89.3% White (88.5% non-Hispanic), 7.5% two or more races, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native
Lake of the Woods Mahomet is one of the youngest communities in Illinois. Its median age is nearly five years younger than the state average. 35% of residents are under 20, and the average household size is 2.7. While many children live in the community, you can also find many seniors; 18% of residents are 65 years old and older, two percentage points higher than the state average.
What’s It Like Living in Lake of the Woods?
Western Lake of the Woods contains the nature preserve, golf courses, and other attractions, while eastern Lake of the Woods Mahomet has residential culdesacs and stores. Both areas are walkable, especially the eastern section, as it contains paved sidewalks and streets laid out in a grid. The nature preserve and parks contain walking trails, but the green spaces are closed at night, so you should walk in the streets instead.
The community is a very family-friendly place to live, and many children enjoy the parks and outdoor points of interest. Young professionals also enjoy living in Lake of the Woods Mahomet. The average commute amongst Lake of the Woods residents is 20.9 minutes, which is nearly 10 minutes less than the state average.
The community is quiet, with no bars or significant nightlife options, making it a good choice for people looking to unwind after work. Lake of the Woods contains or is near some restaurants, so you can eat out and then return home easily.
Things to Do in Lake of the Woods
Ask a resident about what to do in Lake of the Woods Mahomet, and they’ll tell you to visit outside attractions. But you can find many other things to do, including delicious restaurants and quaint yet affordable stores. Here’s what you can do while living in Lake of the Woods.
Restaurants
Filippo’s of Mahomet is a family-run pizzeria that has served Lake of the Woods Mahomet residents for 30 years. Filippo’s Pizza serves authentic Italian pizza, pasta, and sandwiches at affordable prices. All sandwiches cost less than $10, while most pizzas cost less than $20.
If you’re looking for a quick meal, you can order pizza, breadsticks, and wings from Casey’s. Casey’s Mahomet offers deals throughout the week, including discounts when you order four or more pizzas at once, making it a good place to get food for parties or special occasions.
It’ll Do Bar is the leading bar in or near Lake of the Woods. It’ll Do serves beers and mixed drinks as well as hamburgers, pizzas, and sandwiches. It’ll Do is home to special events, including holiday parties. The bar has a casual and friendly setting where you can watch sports and mingle with the locals.
Shopping
Lake of the Woods does not contain any shopping malls or major stores. The closest major store is Dollar General Mahomet where you can buy household goods, groceries, and other items for as little as $1. The closest shopping mall is Eastwood Center (also known as Eastwood Plaza), in zip code 61853. Eastwood Center is a strip mall that contains a few stores, including Ace Hardware Mahomet and Schnucks Mahomet.
Things to Do
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve (also known as Champaign County Forest Preserve Lake of the Woods) is one of the top parks in Illinois. The preserve contains walking trails, including a 3.3-mile bicycle and pedestrian path that runs the length of the preserve. The park also contains the HI Tower, a six-story must-do tower with incredible views of the countryside. The kid-friendly preserve is open on all days of the week for free.
Lake of the Woods Golf Course is open during the spring and summer. It contains an 18-hole regulation course, a 9-hole par-3 course, a driving range, and an on-site pro shop. It’s home to leagues for men and women, as well as golf simulators you can use to practice in winter.
The forest preserve and golf course cater to clubs and summer camps, including the Champaign Sportsmen’s Club. The club is a private club located on the shore of the Lake of the Woods, and it contains an RV park, two event spaces, and other luxurious amenities.
The Mahomet Parks and Recreation plans special events in Lake of the Woods and maintains public spaces on behalf of residents. You can use the Mahomet community calendar of events to see when parties and community celebrations will take place, and you can sign up for summer camps, athletic programs, and other cool events using the Mahomet Parks and Recreation programs calendar.
Here’s where you can find these Lake of the Woods restaurants and attractions:
- Filippo’s Pizza of Mahomet, 2112 Tin Cup Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-4657
- Casey’s, 102 South Prairie View Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-6579
- It’ll Do Bar, 215 South Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-7775
- Dollar General Mahomet, 602 South Prairie View Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 331-431-6992
- Eastwood Center, 204 Eastwood Drive, Mahomet, IL, 61853
- Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 109 South Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-3360
- Lake of the Woods Golf Course, 405 North Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-2183
- Champaign Sportsman’s Club, 302 North Lake of the Woods Road, Mahomet, IL, 61853, 217-586-9951
Schools in Lake of the Woods
The Mahomet Seymour Community Schools serves students in Lake of the Woods Mahomet. The district contains four Mahomet schools, all of which are located outside of Lake of the Woods, though only a few miles away. Middletown Prairie Elementary is a K-2 school that employs 52 full-time teachers, all of whom are certified and have at least three years of experience. Lincoln Trail Elementary serves grades 3 through 5 with 39 certified and full-time teachers. Lincoln Trail Elementary is well known for its library with over 15,000 items, including a literacy section with materials for students at different reading levels.
Mahomet Seymour Junior High School serves grades 6 through 8. US News ranks it in the top 300 middle schools in Illinois. The school has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1, giving your child a chance to bond with their teachers and receive specialized support. Mahomet Seymour Junior High is home to several unique extracurricular programs, including a scholastic bowl team.
Mahomet Seymour High School is the only high school in Mahomet IL. US News ranks it as the top high school in the Champaign, IL metro area and in the top 100 high schools in the state. Mahomet Seymour High School has an 89% graduation rate, and 54% of students test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, 34 percentage points higher than the state average.
Lake of the Woods or Mahomet IL has no private schools or colleges. The Mahomet Public Library is less than three miles from Lake of the Woods. The Mahomet library contains over 44,000 books, nearly 52,000 eBooks, and nearly 20,000 audiobooks.
Is Lake of the Woods Safe?
Here are the latest crime rates for Lake of the Woods Mahomet:
- Total crime rate: 954 offenses per 100,000 people (32.3% higher than the Mahomet average, 51.6% lower than the Illinois average)
- Violent crime rate: 139 crimes per 100,000 people (20.6% lower than the Mahomet average, 51.6% lower than the state average)
- Property crime rate: 815 offenses per 100,000 residents (49.3% higher than the Mahomet average, 51.6% lower than the state average)
While Lake of the Woods has a higher crime rate than Mahomet, it is a safe community to live in by state and national standards. The Mahomet Police Department serves Lake of the Woods residents, with eight Mahomet police officers patrolling the streets regularly.
Lake of the Woods, Mahomet Real Estate
Lake of the Woods real estate is affordable, though your options may be limited. According to Redfin, the median sales price of Lake of the Woods homes for sale in October 2023 was $212,000, 35.7% lower than the median cost of Mahomet homes for sale. The median price per square foot is $189. However, only one home was sold in October 2023.
Lake of the Woods real estate is exclusively single-family homes, with no condos or townhomes. The community contains several mobile homes on lots of over 1,500 square feet. These mobile homes contain at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms, making them good choices for families with young children. These houses for sale in Lake of the Woods cost less than $100,000, so they’re very affordable, even for young professionals.
You also have a few options for single-family homes built on permanent lots. Most of these homes were built in the mid-20th century and have a ranch style, with a wide covered porch, sliding glass doors, and vaulted ceilings. Ranch-style properties in Lake of the Woods Mahomet have varying prices, but you can purchase most ranch-style homes for sale in Lake of the Woods for less than $650,000.
There are very few Lake of the Woods apartments or homes for rent. Meadowview Apartments is an apartment complex that offers Lake of the Woods apartments in Mahomet IL with 1-3 beds. One-bedroom Meadowview apartments with 760 square feet of space cost $630 a month, while two-bedroom apartments start at $749 a month and three-bedroom units start at $835 a month. A home for rent occasionally appears on the market, but outside of Meadowview, no apartments are regularly open for new renters.
You’ll love living in Lake of the Woods Mahomet! The community has convenient access to terrific parks and outdoor points of interest, great schools with experienced teachers, and affordable homes and stores.
If you’re ready to start moving to Lake of the Woods, you should hire the best Lake of the Woods movers. Federal Companies has over 100 years of experience performing moves and serving over 200,000 customers. Get a free estimate by calling 800-747-4100.
