Photo: Horse farm in Barrington Hills, by Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Barrington and Barrington Hills share a name, a school district and a lot of history, but they’re very different places to own a home. Barrington is a village of about 10,700 people with a walkable downtown and a Metra station. Barrington Hills is a village of about 4,100 people spread over roughly 27 square miles, where most lots are 5 acres or more.
I’m Dana Gallagher, a Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate, a Certified Luxury Home agent and BHHS Luxury Collection Specialist. Buyers ask me about these two all the time, so here’s the side-by-side.
Quick Comparison
| Barrington | Barrington Hills | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 Census) | 10,722 | 4,114 |
| Counties | Cook and Lake | Cook, Kane, McHenry and Lake |
| Typical lots | In-town lots, condos, townhomes and larger homes | Zoning minimums of 1 to 5 acres; most parcels 5+ acres |
| Recent prices | Ask me for recent sales | About $1.09M typical home value (Zillow, Sept. 30, 2026) |
| Metra | Barrington station, UP-NW line, downtown | No station in the village; most people use Barrington |
Lot Size and Zoning: The Biggest Difference
Barrington Hills has required a 5-acre minimum for new construction in its R-1 district since 1963. The village zoning code sets single-family minimums of 5 acres in R-1, 3 acres in R-2, 2 acres in R-3 and 1 acre in R-4, and agriculture needs 5 acres in every residential district. The village says the majority of parcels are 5 acres or larger, and farming and horse-keeping are allowed.
Barrington, by contrast, is a traditional village. You’ll find older homes and some condos and townhomes near downtown, established subdivisions with mature trees, and larger homes toward the edges of town.
Home Prices
Barrington Hills is harder to pin down. Zillow put the typical home value at about $1.09 million as of Sept. 30, 2026, while Realtor.com showed a median sold price of about $1.33 million with 35 homes for sale in May 2026. Only a handful of homes sell in a typical month, so one estate sale can swing the median a lot. For a real number, I compare homes in the same zoning district with similar acreage.
Curious what your own home would bring? Get my free home value report.
Property Taxes
Both villages cross county lines, so taxes depend on exactly where the parcel sits. Barrington is split between Cook and Lake counties. Cook assesses homes at 10% of market value and Lake at 33⅓%, and the Village of Barrington says school districts make up about 69% of an average bill. Barrington Hills covers parts of Cook, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties.
My rule for both: before you write an offer, I pull the actual tax history for that address. My property tax comparison for Huntley, Crystal Lake, Algonquin and Barrington goes deeper.
Schools
Both villages are largely served by Barrington Community Unit School District 220. The only public school located inside Barrington Hills is Countryside Elementary, a District 220 school. District 220 reported about 7,950 students at the start of the 2025-26 school year. Boundaries don’t always follow village lines, so always confirm the assigned schools for the exact address.
Commute
The Barrington Metra station is downtown on the Union Pacific Northwest line to Ogilvie Transportation Center, with weekday trips of about 47 to 68 minutes on the published schedule. Barrington Hills doesn’t have its own station, so most commuters drive to Barrington or another nearby stop. Check Metra’s current timetable before you plan around a specific train.
Lifestyle
Barrington is about downtown: restaurants, shops, the historic Catlow Theater, Citizens Park and Baker Lake, all close together.
Barrington Hills is about land and privacy: rolling horse country, riding trails and winding roads. Barrington Hills Country Club, founded in 1921, sits on about 200 acres there.
Watch my video Don’t Move to Barrington, IL Until You Watch This for a look at both, and read my full Barrington moving guide.
How to Decide
- You want to walk to dinner and the train: start with Barrington.
- You want acreage, room for horses, or space between you and the neighbors: start with Barrington Hills.
- You want golf: see my guide to golf communities near Barrington.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Barrington and Barrington Hills?
Barrington is a village of about 10,700 people with a downtown and a Metra station. Barrington Hills is a separate village of about 4,100 people where zoning minimums run from 1 to 5 acres and most parcels are 5 acres or more.
What is the minimum lot size in Barrington Hills?
Barrington Hills zoning sets a 5-acre minimum for single-family homes in its R-1 district, 3 acres in R-2, 2 acres in R-3 and 1 acre in R-4.
Is Barrington Hills more expensive than Barrington?
Generally yes. Zillow put the typical Barrington Hills home value at about $1.09 million as of Sept. 30, 2026, though prices there swing because so few homes sell each month.
What school district serves Barrington Hills?
Barrington Community Unit School District 220 serves much of Barrington Hills, and Countryside Elementary is the only public school in the village. Confirm the assigned schools for any specific address.
Does Barrington Hills have a Metra station?
No. The closest station for most residents is Barrington, on Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest line.
Not Sure Which Fits? Let’s Talk
Tell me your budget, how much land you want and where you commute, and I’ll send you homes in both villages that fit. Call or text me at 224-858-0022 or contact me here.
Dana Gallagher, Broker (SRES®, CBR, CSR, ABR®, SRS®, Certified Luxury Home agent, BHHS Luxury Collection Specialist) | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate | ★★★★★ 5.0 on Google (40 reviews)
Last updated October 2026. Market figures come from public sources and change often.