Batavia spreads across both banks of the Fox River, with a historic downtown, a brick Riverwalk lined with restored windmills and miles of riverside trail. I've handled Batavia sales on both sides of the Fox River, from vintage homes near the Riverwalk to newer subdivisions near Randall and Kirk roads.

Living in Batavia

Batavia is a city about 40 miles west of downtown Chicago, mostly in Kane County with a small section in DuPage County. It sits between Geneva to the north and North Aurora to the south, and together with Geneva and St. Charles it forms the Tri-Cities. Founded in the 1830s, it is the oldest city in Kane County and earned the nickname "The Windmill City" when several windmill makers were based here in the late 1800s.

Downtown Batavia sits on both banks of the river along Wilson Street, with local restaurants and shops, the City of Batavia Government Center and many of the limestone buildings the town is known for. The Batavia Riverwalk winds beside the water with a collection of historic windmills, the Peg Bond Center, the Depot Pond for fishing and winter skating, and the Batavia Depot Museum, which tells the city's story.

The Batavia Park District runs parks, trails and programs across the city. Its signature spot is Hall Quarry Beach, a swimming area with a sandy beach set in a former limestone quarry. The Fox River Trail follows the river through town, and the Batavia spur of the Illinois Prairie Path heads east toward Warrenville and Wheaton. Just north on Route 31, Fabyan Forest Preserve features a historic windmill and a Japanese garden, and Fermilab, the national physics laboratory, sits just east of town, with restored prairie and a bison herd on its grounds.

A Few of Batavia's Neighborhoods

Batavia has dozens of subdivisions. Here are some of the best known on each side of the river.

Don't see your neighborhood listed? Batavia has many more subdivisions. Buying? Search all Batavia homes for sale. Selling? Get a free home value report for any Batavia neighborhood.

Homes in Batavia

Batavia offers a wide range of homes. On the streets around downtown, on both sides of the river, you'll find Victorian and other older homes on mature, tree-lined lots, along with homes built from local limestone. Ranches, split-levels and two-story homes from the decades after World War II fill the established neighborhoods nearby.

Farther from the river, subdivisions built from the 1970s through the 2000s offer two-story homes, ranches and larger lots, many near parks and paths. Townhomes and condominiums are found near downtown and along the main corridors, and new construction appears on the edges of town as land becomes available.

Batavia Schools

Most of Batavia is served by this public school district:

• Batavia Public School District 101, including Rotolo Middle School and Batavia High School

Smaller sections of Batavia are served by Geneva Community Unit School District 304, Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 and West Aurora School District 129.

Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove and Aurora University are a short drive away. School boundaries can change, so always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address directly with the district.

Commuting from Batavia

Batavia sits a short drive north of I-88, with Randall Road on the west side, Kirk Road on the east side, Fabyan Parkway on the north end and Routes 31 and 25 running along both banks of the Fox River. Average drive times from Batavia:

Off-peak times shown in the circles. Times vary by starting point and traffic.

By train

Batavia does not have its own Metra station. The closest is the Geneva station on the Metra Union Pacific West (UP-W) line, a short drive north, where trains reach Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago in about 55–75 minutes, depending on the train. Some commuters also use the Metra BNSF line from the Aurora Transportation Center. See current times on the Metra schedules page.

Batavia Real Estate Market

Batavia homes are consistently in demand, and conditions can differ a lot between historic homes near downtown and the subdivisions on the east and west sides. For current prices, days on market and recent sales, see today's Batavia real estate market report.

Why Work with Kimberly Thurm in Batavia

I've been selling homes in Batavia and the western suburbs for more than 35 years, including 12 years as a broker/owner and years in real estate management. In Batavia, a historic home near the river, an east-side home near Kirk Road and a west-side home near Randall Road are priced in very different ways, and I help buyers, sellers and relocating clients understand those differences before they make a move.

• 500+ homes sold or partnered on
• 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices President's Circle
• ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR and Corporate Mobility Specialist (CMS) for relocation

Call or text me at (630) 464-1181, or send me a message.

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