Barrington's Metra station and village center

Barrington, IL Homes for Sale

Barrington grew around its train station. Where a home sits relative to the station, downtown and the tracks shapes daily life here.

County
Cook and Lake counties
ZIP code
60010
School district
Barrington 220

Newest homes for sale in Barrington

Browse active listings with Barrington in the listing's city field. A mailing address does not by itself confirm village limits or school assignment.

Search Barrington homes by type

Each search shows every active listing of that type, with price, bedroom and map filters.

Living in Barrington

Barrington, IL homes for sale range from Queen Anne and Craftsman houses on the village's older streets to mid-century and newer single-family neighborhoods, with townhomes and condos close to downtown. The village sits about 32 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, and its Metra station is still the center of town.

The Village of Barrington spans the line between Cook and Lake counties. Most of it is in Cook County, and its northern part is in Lake County. It covers a little under five square miles and had 10,722 residents at the 2020 census. Barrington Community Unit School District 220 serves the village and a much larger area around it.

Many homes with a Barrington mailing address are not in the village at all. The 60010 ZIP code also covers Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington, Deer Park, Tower Lakes and unincorporated land. The horse properties, large wooded lots and lake homes people associate with the Barrington area are mostly in those neighboring villages. This page covers the village itself, and the sections below explain how to tell the difference for a specific address.

Local highlights and attractions

Barrington grew around its railroad station after the Chicago & North Western line arrived in 1854, and the village received its charter in 1865. Many of its best-known places are a short walk from the station.

  • Downtown and Main Street

    Shops, restaurants and civic buildings sit within a few blocks of the Metra station. The Catlow, a 1920s movie theater on Main Street, and Barrington's White House, a historic home now used as a village cultural center, are both on the National Register of Historic Places. Volunteers have placed plaques at ten historic sites for a self-guided walk.

  • The Barrington Historic District

    A 92-acre National Register district south of the tracks. The village describes it as one of the largest frame-home districts in Illinois, with Folk, Craftsman, Victorian and Queen Anne houses. Lake Street has some of the best-known examples.

  • Baker's Lake Nature Preserve

    About 219 acres southeast of downtown off Route 14, with a 112-acre lake and island. It is an Illinois nature preserve protecting a rookery of herons, egrets and cormorants, and is owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Barrington Park District and the village.

  • Parks and the library

    The Barrington Park District runs Citizens Park, Langendorf Park and neighborhood parks. The Barrington Area Library serves the village and surrounding communities.

  • Forest preserves and the Fox River

    Cook County's Crabtree Nature Center and Spring Lake preserves are in nearby Barrington Hills, and Lake County's Cuba Marsh is a short drive north. The Fox River runs to the west, past Barrington Hills.

Where homes sit in Barrington

Neighborhood names in Barrington are informal. These are the settings buyers compare most often. Confirm the village limits, county and schools for each address.

  • Village center

    Condos, townhomes and older houses within walking distance of the station, Main Street and the library. Expect train horns, crossing gates and event traffic.

  • Historic streets south of the tracks

    Frame homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s on tree-lined blocks in and around the National Register district. Lots are generally smaller than in the outlying villages.

  • Mid-century and newer neighborhoods

    Ranches, split-levels, colonials and newer homes farther from downtown, including subdivisions on the Lake County side of the village. These trade walkability for larger lots and quieter streets.

  • The wider Barrington area

    Estate lots, horse properties and lake communities are mostly in Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington, Tower Lakes and unincorporated areas. Each has its own village rules, services and taxes.

Getting around

Barrington is built around a commuter rail line, and two railroads cross the village, so where a home sits relative to the tracks matters.

  • Metra Union Pacific Northwest

    The Barrington station is in the village center. The ride to Ogilvie Transportation Center is often about 50 minutes on express trains and a little over an hour on locals. Check the current Metra schedule for the trains you would take.

  • The CN freight line and the Route 14 underpass

    The Canadian National freight line, the former EJ&E, crosses three main roads in the village at grade. Freight traffic grew after CN bought the line in 2008. An underpass taking Route 14 beneath the CN tracks is under construction, and the village has begun studying a second grade separation at Main Street near Barrington High School.

  • Main roads

    Route 14 (Northwest Highway) runs diagonally through town, Route 59 (Hough Street) runs north and south, and Main Street continues east as Lake-Cook Road. Route 59 leads south toward I-90. Homes on these roads trade quick access for more traffic.

Barrington area schools

Barrington Community Unit School District 220 runs preschool through high school for the village and a large area in Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties. Many homes with a Barrington mailing address sit outside the village, and some nearby addresses are in other districts. School assignment follows the property address, not the mailing name or the nearest school.

Before you rely on a school, verify the specific property address with the district.

  • Preschool through grade 12

    Barrington 220

    The district runs eight elementary schools for kindergarten through fifth grade. Arnett C. Lines, Grove Avenue, Hough Street and Roslyn Road are in the village; Countryside, Barbara B. Rose, North Barrington and Sunny Hill serve the wider area. Grades 6 to 8 attend Barrington Middle School's Prairie or Station campus, and grades 9 to 12 attend Barrington High School on Main Street. Use the district's address-based locator, then confirm with the district if a school matters to your decision.

    Barrington 220 school site locator

Five checks worth making before an offer

  1. Confirm the village, not just the mailing address

    Many homes with a Barrington mailing address are in neighboring villages or unincorporated areas. Taxes, services, zoning and rules such as horse-keeping follow the actual jurisdiction. Check the parcel with the Cook County or Lake County assessor.

  2. Find out whether the home is in a historic district

    Ask the village whether the property is in the historic district or individually designated, and whether exterior work, additions or demolition need review before you plan around them.

  3. Check the rail and road setting

    Visit at commuting hours. Note Metra and CN freight trains, crossing gates and traffic on Route 14, Route 59 and Lake-Cook Road, and how they reach the specific address. Ask how the Route 14 underpass work affects the area until it is finished.

  4. Know which county sends the tax bill

    Homes on the Cook County side and the Lake County side are assessed and billed by different counties on different schedules. Pull the most recent bill for the property and check which exemptions apply.

  5. Match inspections to the property

    For older homes, ask about past renovations, electrical and plumbing updates, and basement water. If the home is outside the village, confirm whether it uses a private well or septic system and schedule those inspections.

Barrington real estate: buyer FAQs

Is a Barrington mailing address inside the village?

Not always. The 60010 ZIP code covers Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington, Deer Park, Tower Lakes and unincorporated areas as well as the village. Confirm the jurisdiction for the specific property with the county assessor or the village.

Is Barrington in Cook County or Lake County?

Both. Most of the village is in Cook County and its northern part is in Lake County. The county affects how the home is assessed and when tax bills arrive.

Which schools serve Barrington homes?

Barrington Community Unit School District 220 serves the village for preschool through 12th grade, with Barrington High School on Main Street and two middle school campuses. Elementary assignment depends on the address. Use the district's school site locator and confirm with the district.

Does a historic district affect an older home?

The Barrington Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ask the village whether the property is designated and whether exterior changes, additions or demolition need review before work begins.

How long is the train ride to downtown Chicago?

Barrington is on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest line. The ride to Ogilvie Transportation Center is often about 50 minutes on express trains and a little over an hour on locals. Check the current schedule for the trains you would take.

How do freight trains affect Barrington?

The CN freight line crosses several main roads in the village at grade, which can cause delays. An underpass for Route 14 is under construction. Visit a home at different times of day to see how trains and traffic reach the address.

Are there horse properties in Barrington?

Most horse properties in the area are in Barrington Hills and other neighboring villages or unincorporated areas, where zoning sets the rules for keeping horses. Check the zoning for the specific parcel with that village or the county.

How do I estimate property taxes on a Barrington home?

Pull the most recent bill for the property from the Cook County or Lake County Treasurer, depending on which side of the county line it sits. The bill depends on the assessed value, the combined rates for that address and any exemptions.

Communities near Barrington

Compare homes in the neighboring towns.

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