Life in Mokena
27 miles southwest of the Chicago loop lies the quiet village of Mokena, a Will County suburb with plenty to offer new and experienced homeowners. It’s a great community centered around nature, community events, and shopping, with a growing population and housing market.
The first settlers of Mokena arrived from Ohio in 1831, living off the land. After seven years, the town’s founding family purchased the land from the federal government in 1838 to establish a settlement. In 1852, the Rock Island Railroad transformed the settlement. The focus turned to railroad stops as the region’s main growth opportunity. By the late 1870s, those railroad stops made the settlement an important market center for surrounding farming communities.
The village of Mokena is named after a native American word for “turtle,” likely originating from the Anishinaabemowin or Potawatomi languages. It was officially incorporated in 1880 with a population of just 552 people. Existing railroads, combined with the introduction of interstate highways, made Mokena a key part of Chicagoland over time. In fact, the village population increased by 13,000 people from 1950 to 2000. As of 2020, the population was just under 20,000 people.
School and Home Life in Mokena
There are four elementary/junior high school districts in Mokena. High school students attend either Lincoln-Way Central High School or Lincoln-Way East High School, depending on their location. College students who want to stay local typically attend Rasmussen University in Rockford or Joliet Junior College (the first public community college in the United States).
As for housing stock, there is a positive outlook for homes in Mokena going into 2023. The area shows both steady population growth and a good selection of properties to choose from.
The vast majority of homes in Mokena were built between 1980 and 1999. These are low-density, single-family, owner-occupied properties. Homeowners in this category tend to have higher incomes, but also higher transportation costs due to the quiet location away from main commercial hubs. Many of these homes are still in good condition. However some may need a full roof replacement in the near future to remain valuable on the market.
About 18% of housing stock in Mokena is fairly new (built after the year 2000), and this section of the housing market shows significantly high population growth. These are mostly low-density, owner-occupied homes with very few rental units among them. It’s important for homeowners in this category to invest in top-quality roofing that will provide lasting value to the property.
Things to Do In Mokena
There are plenty of fun and interesting things to do in Mokena, no matter what your tastes. Here are some of the most highly rated places to visit around the village:
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park: This indoor trampoline center is a great place for kids and adults alike to jump around, get some exercise, or host a party. The location also features fitness classes and dodgeball events.
- Accelerate Indoor Speedway: Here, you can race electric go karts (reaching up to 50 mph) with nine other friends on two different race tracks. You can also try axe throwing and enjoy a nice meal in this high-thrill environment.
- Hickory Creek Forest Preserve: This 1,541-acre natural area features several picnic shelters and multiple hiking/biking trails that can be used to enjoy cross-country skiing in winter. It’s also home to over 50 bird species and several native plant species. It’s a great place for geocaching, outdoor exercise, or just enjoying the beauty of nature.
- Brothership Brewing: If you’re looking for unique local drinks, this alien-themed local brewery offers a laid-back themed taproom featuring several interesting themed beers.
- Dancing Marlin Restaurant: One of the best rated restaurants in Mokena, this American-style tapas restaurant features creative, shareable dishes within a dining area designed to inspire conversation.
Mokena Weather
Weather in Mokena is typical for a Midwestern village. With long, warm, humid summers and windy, snowy winters, you can expect a wide range of seasonal variation.
Summer in Mokena typically lasts from late May to late September. The hottest month is July, with an average high of 84°F on any given day. Average humidity in summer is above 68%, and visitors may get very uncomfortable during peak temperatures.
Winters in Mokena normally last from early December to early March. The coldest month of the year is January, with an average low of 18°F.
While fall tends to be the clearest season of the year, spring and winter are much cloudier. However, rainfall is on a slightly different schedule. Mokena gets about 40 inches of rain per year on average, which is slightly more than the national average. Rain picks up in March and reaches its peak frequency in June. From there, rain remains present throughout the summer with an average precipitation of 38%. Rain usually decreases in the fall, around September.
Snow is also quite common in Mokena. The village sees about 30 inches of snow per year, which is actually slightly lower than the average for Illinois (39 inches). February is the snowiest month, with an average of 4 inches across the month.
From January to March, Mokena can also be quite windy. Residents experience average wind speeds of 12.6 mph consistently from winter to early spring. This combination of wind, rain, and snow can make it very difficult to have a long-lasting roof without regular maintenance. It’s important for homeowners in Mokena to repair (and prevent) issues like ice dams and leaks to keep their roof in good shape throughout all seasons.
