26,000+Population
Will CountyCounty
1853Incorporated
60441Zip Code
30 miTo Downtown Chicago

The Story

About Lockport

Lockport was platted in 1837 by the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal commissioners to serve as their headquarters. Chief engineer William Gooding, who had settled the area in 1833, recognized the site's exceptional water-power potential — sitting 40 feet higher than nearby Joliet — and oversaw construction of Lock No. 1, from which the town takes its name. The canal opened in 1848, connecting Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and Lockport incorporated as a city in 1853.

Known today as "The City of Historic Pride" and "The Old Canal Town," Lockport is considered one of the best-preserved canal towns in the country. Its historic downtown, built largely from locally quarried limestone, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The population grew roughly 60% between 1990 and 2000 as Chicago's southwest suburbs expanded, and Lockport remains largely a bedroom community today.

Real Estate

The Lockport Housing Market

Lockport's housing stock ranges from renovated Victorian homes and mid-century brick ranches in the historic downtown to newer subdivisions throughout the surrounding township. Buyers are typically drawn by the city's canal-town character, top-rated schools, and Metra access into Chicago.

Home values shift block by block. The team builds every comparative market analysis using a verified methodology — a 1-mile radius, comparable square footage within 20%, matching bed and bath count, and similar age, garage, and basement — so Lockport buyers and sellers get a number they can trust, not a computer-generated estimate. Call or text 630-912-9129 for current, verified Lockport market data.

Market Data

Current Lockport Market Data

Education

Schools in Lockport

Lockport Township High School District 205 (the Porters), established in 1910, serves the city's secondary students across its East and Central campuses, with roughly 3,800 students combined.

  • Elementary and middle school students attend feeder districts including Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C and Lockport School District 91.

Outdoors

Parks & Recreation

Lockport's outdoor recreation centers on the historic I&M Canal corridor.

  • The Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor — designated in 1984 as America's first National Heritage Corridor, with a towpath trail running alongside the canal through town.
  • I&M Canal Lock No. 1, opened in 1848, still visible along the canal in downtown Lockport.

Around Town

Things to Do, Dining & Shopping

Lockport's historic downtown doubles as a living museum of the canal era.

  • The Gaylord Building (1838), a National Trust site with exhibits on the region's canal-centric past.
  • The Will County Historical Society Headquarters (1845), a National Historic Landmark and former Canal Commission headquarters, with the adjacent Heritage Village Open-Air Museum featuring relocated buildings dating to the 1830s–1880s.
  • The Lockport Gallery, part of the Illinois State Museum network, and the annual Old Canal Days festival, drawing thousands each summer with a parade, artisan market, live music, and fireworks along the canal.

Getting Around

Location & Commute

Lockport sits about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago on the east bank of the Des Plaines River, just north of Joliet. Metra's Heritage Corridor Line provides rail service connecting Lockport directly to downtown Chicago.

Local Expertise

Buying or Selling in Lockport?

Steve Roake & Kimberly Genovese work with buyers and sellers throughout Lockport and the Chicago southwest suburbs, applying the team's verified comp methodology to one of Illinois' best-preserved historic canal towns.

  • 615+Transactions Closed
  • $113M+Sales Volume
  • 103.7%*List-to-Sale Ratio
  • 2003Licensed Since

*Based on 22 sellers who listed at the team's recommended starting price, averaging 103.7% of list price at 13 days to contract — compared to MRED's 98.4% and NIRA's 95.8% 12-month market averages (as of Aug 2026).

Call or Text the Team: 630-912-9129

FAQ

Lockport Real Estate: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lockport, IL a good place to buy a home?
Lockport offers a historic canal-town character, a well-regarded high school district, and a manageable commute to Chicago via Metra, with housing ranging from renovated Victorian homes downtown to newer subdivisions throughout the township.
What school district serves Lockport, IL?
Lockport Township High School District 205 (the Porters) serves the city's secondary students across its East and Central campuses. Elementary and middle school students attend feeder districts including Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C and Lockport School District 91.
How far is Lockport from downtown Chicago?
Lockport is approximately 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, on the east bank of the Des Plaines River just north of Joliet, with Metra rail service connecting to the city.
What is Lockport, IL known for?
Lockport is known as one of the best-preserved canal towns in the country, home to the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal headquarters, a National Register-listed downtown, and the annual Old Canal Days festival.
Who should I contact to buy or sell a home in Lockport, IL?
Steve Roake & Kimberly Genovese of Constellation Home Sales | Freedom Group Global serve Will County and the Chicago southwest suburbs. Call or text 630-912-9129 for a verified market analysis.

Explore More

Explore Nearby Communities