Carillon Lakes

Crest Hill, Will County, Illinois  ·  1,113 Homes  ·  Gated 55+ Community

Overview

Carillon Lakes is a gated 55+ active adult community in Crest Hill, Will County, developed by Lexington Homes. With 1,113 homes and a location immediately adjacent to Lake Renwick — a 580-acre lake and nature preserve — it is one of the larger communities in the Chicago southwest suburbs. The community sits along Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) in a well-developed corridor with easy access to Joliet and I-55.

Like its Will County neighbor Carillon Plainfield, Carillon Lakes carries the Lexington Homes brand but is a completely separate community. Carillon Lakes is smaller and less densely built, with more open space and the lake preserve as a natural boundary on the eastern side. Homes range from attached villas to detached single-family ranch-style, with pricing generally running from the mid-$200s to the mid-$400s on the resale market.

Location and Access

Crest Hill sits in northeastern Will County, bordered by Joliet to the south and Lockport to the southwest. The community is roughly 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Interstate 55 is approximately 5 miles east, providing direct access to the Chicago metro and O'Hare. The nearest Metra station is Lockport on the Heritage Corridor line, approximately 4 miles away — one of the few Chicago-area 55+ communities with realistic commuter rail access if needed for occasional trips to the city.

Everyday retail is concentrated along Weber Road and Route 30, with Costco, Home Depot, and major grocery chains within 5 miles. Presence Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet serves as the primary hospital. Northwestern Medicine is approximately 20 miles north.

Housing Stock

Carillon Lakes was fully built out in the mid-2000s. All inventory is resale. The community includes a range of single-family detached homes and attached villas. Single-family homes typically run 1,400–2,200 sq ft, mostly single-story ranch plans. Villas run 1,100–1,500 sq ft. Both styles use brick and vinyl exteriors typical of mid-2000s suburban construction.

Lake Renwick-facing lots and homes backing to the nature preserve command a meaningful premium — typically $30,000–$60,000 above comparable non-view lots. Interior lots along the community's pond system also carry modest premiums. Buyers should verify current resale inventory and recent comparable sales before any offer.

HOA and Costs Summary

The HOA fee of approximately $225/month covers clubhouse maintenance, pool operations, fitness center, landscaping of common areas, and gated entry staffing. Individual lot owners are responsible for their own yard maintenance. The fee does not include water, electric, cable, or internet — those run as standard utilities.

Will County property taxes on a $350,000 home run approximately $8,000–$9,000/year at the county's effective rate of roughly 2.3%. Seniors 65+ with household income under $65,000 qualify for the Illinois Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze — but must re-apply every year with the Will County Assessor. Missing the deadline means losing the freeze for that year.

See the true cost page for a full 10-year ownership projection including HOA, taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

How Carillon Lakes Compares

Buyers comparing Carillon Lakes to Carillon Plainfield should note the size difference: Plainfield has 2,097 homes versus 1,113 here — nearly twice as large, which means more amenity variety and more resale inventory. Carillon Plainfield also includes a golf course, which Carillon Lakes does not. Carillon Lakes counters with the Lake Renwick adjacency and generally slightly lower price points.

Within Will County, Grand Haven in Romeoville (677 homes) is smaller and less amenitized, while Shorewood Glen in Shorewood (765 homes) competes on price. The Carillon brand comparison page walks through all seven Carillon communities side by side.