Moving to Barrington, IL (2026): What to Know Before You Buy

Photo: “Catlow Theater 2013” by EEHigginsPhotography, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Barrington, Illinois is a village of about 10,700 people, about 32 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It has a historic downtown, its own Metra station on the Union Pacific Northwest line, and the open horse country of Barrington Hills right next door.

I’m Dana Gallagher, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate. Here’s what to know before you tour homes in Barrington. Watch my video, Don’t Move to Barrington, IL Until You Watch This, below.

Where Barrington Is and What the Commute Looks Like

Barrington sits about 32 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, and the village straddles two counties, Cook and Lake. That matters for taxes.

By train: The Barrington station is right downtown on Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) line to Ogilvie Transportation Center. On Metra’s published weekday schedule, trips take about 47 to 68 minutes, depending on whether you catch an express or an all-stop train, and there are more than 30 inbound trains on a typical weekday. Schedules change, so always check Metra’s current timetable before you count on a specific train.

By car: Routes 14 (Northwest Highway) and 59 are the main roads through town.

Barrington Home Prices in 2026

Barrington is not an entry-level market. Realtor.com, looking at the whole 60010 zip code, showed a median sold price of about $805,000 and roughly 76 homes for sale. That zip code covers more than the village.

What you’ll find is a mix:

• Near downtown: older homes, plus some condos and townhomes within reach of the train.
• Established subdivisions: neighborhoods with mature trees and a range of home sizes.
• Toward Barrington Hills: much larger homes on acreage, often with room for horses.

Prices swing a lot by street and lot size, so the median is just a starting point. If you’re buying, get fully pre-approved before you tour, and check where mortgage rates are this fall. If you’re selling, start with a free home value report so you know your numbers.

Property Taxes: The Cook and Lake County Split

According to the Village of Barrington, property in the village is assessed and taxed through either Cook County or Lake County, depending on exactly where the parcel sits. The two counties assess differently: Cook assesses homes at 10% of market value, and Lake, like most Illinois counties, uses 33⅓%. Two similar homes a few streets apart can have different bills.

The bills are real money. Cook County treasurer data, reported by the Daily Herald, put the median residential tax bill on the Cook side of Barrington at about $8,246 for tax year 2021. The village also notes that school districts make up about 69% of an average tax bill. Before you make an offer, I’ll pull the actual tax history for that address.

Barrington Schools: District 220

Most of Barrington is served by Barrington Community Unit School District 220, a unit district covering pre-K through 12th grade. Federal education data lists 12 schools. The district reported about 7,950 students at the start of the 2025-26 school year. Barrington High School is the district’s high school, and federal data shows a 94% four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023, compared with about 88% statewide.

District 220 also covers areas outside the village, so boundaries matter. Always confirm the assigned schools for the exact address and check the Illinois Report Card.

Downtown, Parks and Horse Country

Downtown Barrington is the heart of town, with local restaurants, shops and the Catlow Theater, a historic movie theater on West Main Street. Citizens Park has walking paths, playgrounds and green space, and Baker Lake is right in town, with a path and plenty of birds.

Head west into Barrington Hills and the landscape opens up into rolling horse country, with large properties, riding trails and winding roads. Not sure which fits you? See my Barrington vs. Barrington Hills comparison.

Golf Clubs and Gated Communities Near Barrington

If golf is part of your plan, there’s a lot nearby:

• Barrington Hills Country Club (Barrington Hills) was founded in 1921 and sits on about 200 acres.
• Biltmore Country Club (North Barrington) finished its golf course in 1926, right on Honey Lake.
• Wynstone (North Barrington) is a gated community on about 750 acres, built around a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course that opened in 1989.
• Lake Barrington Shores (Lake Barrington) is a gated condominium community with its own 18-hole course.
• Makray Memorial Golf Club, right in the village of Barrington, is an 18-hole course open to the public.

Each club and association has its own rules, dues and fees, so ask me for the details on any home you’re considering. For a closer look at each one, read my guide to gated golf communities near Barrington. As a Certified Luxury Home agent and BHHS Luxury Collection Specialist, I help buyers and sellers with higher-end and acreage properties like these. If you’re downsizing from a larger Barrington-area home, my SRES guide to downsizing and later-in-life moves explains how I help.

The Honest Downsides of Living in Barrington

• Taxes. They’re high, and they depend on the county line.
• Inventory. There aren’t many homes for sale at any one time, and good ones go fast.
• Older homes. Many homes in and around downtown have some age on them, so budget for updates and get a thorough inspection.
• Traffic. Routes 14 and 59 both run through town and get busy at rush hour, and trains crossing downtown can back things up.

None of these are deal-breakers, but go in knowing about them.

Comparing Barrington With Other Northwest Suburbs

Still deciding? Read my guides to moving to Cary, IL, moving to Crystal Lake, moving to Elgin and moving to Huntley. Ready to look? Search homes for sale, or contact me about buying in Barrington. You can also call or text 224-858-0022.

Already own in Barrington and thinking of selling? Check your Barrington home’s value before you decide.

Dana Gallagher, Broker (SRES, CBR, CSR, ABR, SRS, Certified Luxury Home agent, BHHS Luxury Collection Specialist) | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate | 13300 Rt 47 Ste 200, Huntley, IL 60142 | mybrokerdana@gmail.com

People also ask

How far is Barrington, IL from Chicago?
Barrington is about 32 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. On Metra’s published weekday schedule, the Union Pacific Northwest line takes about 47 to 68 minutes from Barrington to Ogilvie Transportation Center. Check Metra’s current schedule before you plan around a specific train.

What county is Barrington, IL in?
Both Cook and Lake. The village straddles the county line, so the county that assesses and taxes a home depends on exactly where the parcel sits.

Are property taxes high in Barrington, IL?
They’re high. Cook County treasurer data put the median residential bill on the Cook side of Barrington at about $8,246 for tax year 2021, and current bills may differ. Cook assesses homes at 10% of market value and Lake County at 33⅓%, so always check the actual tax history for a specific address.

Are there gated communities near Barrington, IL?
Yes. Wynstone in North Barrington is a gated community built around a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course, and Lake Barrington Shores in Lake Barrington is a gated condominium community with its own 18-hole course.

Last updated: October 2026 | Market figures come from public sources as of fall 2026 and change often. Dana Gallagher, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate