Downtown Cary near the Metra station

Cary, IL Homes for Sale: Houses, Townhomes & Condos Near Metra

Cary grew up around a railroad depot near the Fox River. The right home depends on its distance to the train, its distance to the river, and whether the address is inside village limits.

County
McHenry County (Algonquin Township) · small eastern portion in Lake County (Cuba Township)
ZIP code
60013
School districts
Cary CCSD 26 · Community High School District 155 · Crystal Lake D47 and CUSD 300 (portions)

Newest homes for sale in Cary

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

Search Cary homes by type

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

What is Cary, IL like as a railroad village on the Fox River?

Homes for sale in Cary, IL range from older houses near the downtown Metra station to subdivisions built in later decades, inside McHenry County's 60013 ZIP code and Cary School District 26.

Cary began as Cary Station. William D. Cary farmed land here, and after the railroad bought a strip of his property in the 1850s, a single-track line and a depot followed. The rail connection let local farmers diversify, and a pickle trade brought buyers from Chicago and St. Louis. In 1893, Cary Station had about 300 residents, and they voted to incorporate as a village. The Union Pacific Northwest line still runs through the center of downtown, and the Fox River still runs along the village's southern edge.

Today Cary covers about six square miles between Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Fox River Grove and Oakwood Hills. For a buyer, three practical questions come up early: how far a home is from the train, how close it is to the river, and whether a Cary address is actually inside the village. Those answers shape the commute, the utilities and the rules that come with a property.

Main Street and the Metra station in downtown Cary

How have the Cary depot and Fox River shaped the village?

Two features have shaped Cary from the start: the rail line through downtown and the Fox River along the village's edge. Each brings different questions to a home search.

  • What is downtown Cary and its Metra station like?

    Downtown Cary grew around the depot, and the station is still at its center. Older commercial buildings sit along Main Street and the streets near the tracks, and Jaycee Park holds a bust of William D. Cary. Streets close to the station hold many of the village's older homes, so a short walk to the train often comes with an older house and a smaller lot.

  • What should I know about the Fox River in Cary for real estate?

    The Fox River forms Cary's southern and southeastern border. Some homes near the river sit lower and closer to the water than homes elsewhere in the village, which can bring floodplain and flood-insurance questions that homes on higher ground do not have.

If walking to the train or living near the river is part of why you are looking here, map the actual walk and check the flood map for the specific address before you compare prices.

Living in Cary

Most of Cary's recreation runs through the Cary Park District, which voters created in 1971. It serves Cary, Trout Valley and parts of Oakwood Hills, Lake in the Hills and unincorporated McHenry County.

  • Hoffman Park

    The park district bought Hoffman Park, about 265 acres east of Route 31, in 1999. Much of it is still farmland, with a prairie pothole wetland and about 40 acres of woodland, savanna and remnant prairie. Developed areas include an off-leash dog area, an accessible fishing pier, community garden plots and trails.

  • Sunburst Bay and Cary-Grove Park

    Sunburst Bay Aquatic Center opened at Cary-Grove Park in 2022, next to Cary-Grove High School on First Street. It has a zero-depth leisure pool, a lap pool, diving boards and slides. In-district rates go to residents who pay taxes to the Cary Park District, so check whether a home is in the district.

  • What golf and open spaces are available in Cary?

    Foxford Hills Golf Club on Rawson Bridge Road is run by the park district. The village counts more than 2,400 acres of public open space inside or directly next to its limits.

How to get around Cary, IL?

Cary is about 45 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, with a Metra station downtown and Route 14 and Route 31 at its edges. Compare your routes at the hours you would actually make them.

  • What is the Metra situation in Cary?

    Cary station is downtown on the Union Pacific Northwest line, which ends at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. Check Metra's current schedule for express and local trains, and the village's rules for commuter parking.

  • What is the significance of Route 14 in Cary?

    Northwest Highway (US 14) runs through the village beside the railroad, toward Crystal Lake to the northwest and Fox River Grove and Barrington to the southeast.

  • How do Route 31 and I-90 connect to Cary?

    Route 31 forms part of Cary's western edge and leads south through Algonquin toward I-90, about 12 miles away.

Schools and boundaries

School boundaries around Cary do not follow village limits. Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 serves most of the village from preschool through eighth grade, and Community High School District 155 serves high school students. Some Cary addresses fall in Crystal Lake District 47 or Community Unit School District 300 instead. A city name, ZIP code, mailing address or listing description does not confirm which schools serve a home.

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

  • Preschool through 8th grade

    Cary CCSD 26

    District 26 runs Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center, Briargate, Deer Path and Three Oaks elementary schools, and Cary Junior High. The district says its graduates move on to District 155 high schools, primarily Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge.

    Cary School District 26
  • High school

    Community High School District 155

    District 155 runs four high schools: Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake Central and Crystal Lake South. Cary-Grove High School opened in 1961 on Three Oaks Road and serves students from Cary, Fox River Grove, Oakwood Hills and part of the Barrington area. Which high school a home is assigned to depends on the address.

    Community High School District 155

Five checks worth making before an offer

  1. Why confirm the exact location of a Cary address?

    The 60013 ZIP code reaches beyond village limits. Confirm whether the address is inside Cary or in unincorporated county land, and whether it is in McHenry or Lake County, because that decides which government handles zoning, permits, police and utilities.

  2. Why check the flood map for homes near the Fox River in Cary?

    For homes near the Fox River or low ground, check the FEMA flood map for the address, ask about past water in the basement or yard, and get a flood insurance quote before you write an offer.

  3. How to confirm water and sewer services for a home in Cary?

    Ask whether the home is on village water and sewer or a private well and septic. For a well and septic, plan for a water test and a septic inspection along with the home inspection.

  4. How to check school assignment for a home in the Cary area?

    District 26, District 47 and District 300 all serve parts of the Cary area, and District 155 assigns high schools by address. Confirm the assignment for the exact address with each district.

  5. How to calculate the full cost of owning a home in Cary?

    Look beyond the asking price. Review the property's tax record from the McHenry County or Lake County Treasurer, depending on the address, possible exemptions, insurance, association dues and rules, and the work you would want to do after closing.

Cary home-search questions

Is Cary in McHenry County?

Mostly. The vast majority of the village is in Algonquin Township, McHenry County, and a small eastern portion extends into Cuba Township, Lake County. County affects the assessor, treasurer and tax bill, so confirm the county for the specific address. Some homes with a Cary mailing address also sit outside village limits.

Does Cary have a Metra station?

Yes. Cary station is downtown on the Union Pacific Northwest line to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. Check Metra for current schedules and the village for commuter parking rules.

Which school districts serve Cary?

Cary School District 26 serves most of the village from preschool through 8th grade, and Community High School District 155 serves high school students. Some addresses fall in Crystal Lake District 47 or District 300, so confirm the specific address with the district.

Does a Cary address guarantee Cary-Grove High School?

No. District 155 assigns high schools by address, and District 26 says its graduates go primarily to Cary-Grove or Prairie Ridge. Confirm the assignment with District 155.

What should I check on a home near the Fox River?

Check the FEMA flood map for the address, ask about past water in the basement or yard, and get a flood insurance quote early. Ask whether floodplain rules limit additions or rebuilding.

Do all Cary homes have village water and sewer?

No. Some homes with a Cary address, especially in unincorporated areas, use a private well and septic system. Confirm the utilities with the seller and the village before you make an offer.

How do I estimate property taxes on a Cary home?

Pull the most recent bill for the specific property from the McHenry County Treasurer, or the Lake County Treasurer for the small part of the village in Lake County. The bill depends on the assessed value, the combined rates of the taxing bodies for that address and any exemptions.

Why look at the map if the listings are already on this page?

The carousel shows active city-filtered listings. The map search lets you change filters and see how an address relates to the train, the river, your routes and nearby communities.

Communities near Cary

Compare homes in the neighboring towns.

  • Fox River Grove
  • Crystal Lake
  • Algonquin
  • Lake in the Hills
  • Oakwood Hills
  • Trout Valley
  • Barrington

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Tell us which homes interest you and what matters in your daily routine. We can help you compare the property details, identify questions for the right public offices or documents, and plan the next showing.

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