Moving to Barrington, IL
Moving to Barrington, IL comes down to the train, the schools, the county your address sits in, and the type of home you want.
Barrington & the Northwest Suburbs
Barrington vs Barrington Hills vs South Barrington: Which Fits You?
Barrington, Barrington Hills and South Barrington sit next to each other, but they are different places to live. Here is how they compare.
Have a question about your own buying or selling plans?
Barrington vs Barrington Hills vs South Barrington: what is the difference?
Barrington vs Barrington Hills vs South Barrington comes down to lot size, how close you want to be to the train and what kind of home you want. Barrington has the downtown and the Metra station. Barrington Hills has the largest lots and the horse properties. South Barrington has large homes in subdivisions.
The towns side by side
| Barrington | Barrington Hills | South Barrington | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Known for | Walkable downtown, Metra station, historic district | Estate and horse property on 5-acre lots | More than 30 subdivisions of large homes |
| Lots | Village lots and subdivisions | 5-acre minimum for new homes since 1963 | 30,000 sq ft to 5 acres by zoning district |
| Train | Barrington Metra station, Union Pacific Northwest line | Drive to the station | Drive to the station |
| County | Cook and Lake | Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry | Cook |
| Schools | Barrington CUSD 220 | Mostly Barrington CUSD 220 | Barrington CUSD 220 |
| Page | /realtor-barrington-il | /realtor-barrington-hills-il | /realtor-south-barrington-il |
Which Barrington area town fits you?
Other nearby towns have their own pages too: Lake Barrington and North Barrington, Inverness and Lake Zurich.
- Choose Barrington, if you want to walk to downtown and the train.
- Choose Barrington Hills, if you want acreage, a barn or trail access.
- Choose South Barrington, if you want a large home in a subdivision with an association.
Barrington, Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington, Inverness, Lake Zurich.
Sources: Village of Barrington, Village of Barrington Hills, Village of South Barrington zoning code (via Zoneomics), Metra, read November 2026.
Questions about the Barrington area towns
What is the difference between Barrington and Barrington Hills?
Barrington is the village with the downtown and the Metra station. Barrington Hills is a separate village known for larger lots and horse property.
Which Barrington area town has the train?
The Barrington Metra station at 201 S Spring St is in the village of Barrington, on the Union Pacific Northwest line.
Is South Barrington a good fit for a large home?
South Barrington has more than 30 subdivisions of large single-family homes with a 2,400 square foot minimum house size.
Which towns are in Barrington CUSD 220?
Barrington, South Barrington and most of Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington and North Barrington. Confirm each address with the district.
Helpful real estate guides
Homes for Sale in Barrington, IL
Homes for sale in Barrington, IL, from a Realtor with an office in the village at 1250 S Grove Ave.
South Barrington Luxury Homes
South Barrington luxury homes, from a Realtor with an office nearby in Barrington.
YOUR NEXT REAL ESTATE CONVERSATION
Talk through your plans for the Northwest Suburbs
Whether you are comparing homes, preparing a sale or questioning an estimate, start with the decision in front of you. Share your timing and the information you already have with Realtor in Northwest Suburbs. Ask which details and professional discussions will help you choose an informed next step.
- Bring your housing priorities and desired timing.
- Review property details and written responsibilities.
- Ask for situation-specific cost information before committing.