Fox River Grove · McHenry County · IL
Homes for sale in
Fox River Grove.
- Active listings
- 6
- Median list
- $345K
- Avg time on market
- 12 days
- Sold · last year
- 70
Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (Unknown)
Active listings
6 homes on the market
About the community
Living in Fox River Grove.
Fox River Grove is the McHenry County village that lives most like a true Metra suburb. The UP-NW station sits in the heart of the downtown commercial strip on Northwest Highway, walkable from Foxmoor and most other subdivisions, and the village's Czech-Bohemian founding (the Opatrny family, 1850) is still visible in the older neighborhoods and the Norge Ski Club on the hill above town. Norge is the oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States (founded 1905). Schools are unusual: a small standalone PreK-8 district (Fox River Grove CSD 3) feeds Cary-Grove HS in Community High School District 155, shared with Cary. That walk-to-train factor is what holds Fox River Grove's home values up; typical homes trade meaningfully higher than Cary's or Algonquin's average even though the village is half their size.
At a glance
Metra UP-NW (Fox River Grove)
Walkable station in the heart of downtown. 37.3 miles to Ogilvie, about 52 weekday trains, typical inbound trip around one hour.
~4,702 residents
2020 Census. Compact village along the Fox River between Cary and Barrington.
D3 elementary + D155 high school
Fox River Grove CSD 3 PreK-8 (Algonquin Road School + Fox River Grove Middle) plus Cary-Grove High in Community HSD 155.
Norge Ski Club (1905)
Oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States. 70-meter jumping scaffold visible across the village; annual Norge Winter Tournament every January.
U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway)
Downtown commercial spine. Algonquin Road connects south toward Route 31.
Median income $125K
Well above McHenry County average. Reflects the Metra walkability premium and tighter inventory.
Founded by Czech immigrants, 1850
Frank and Eman Opatrny's Picnic Grove drew Chicago day-trippers along the new C&NW rail line in the 1850s. Incorporated 1919.
Fox River corridor
Lions Park canoe launch on the south bank, Picnic Grove Park on the original Opatrny site. Smooth-water stretch above the Algonquin dam.
What’s close
Fox River Grove's downtown sits at the Fox River where U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway) crosses the railroad, with the Metra station inside the commercial core and residential streets climbing the hills north and south.
- Fox River Grove Metra station
- UP-NW line, 37.3 miles to Ogilvie. Walkable from Foxmoor and most downtown blocks.
- Downtown Northwest Highway strip
- Compact commercial block with the Brunch Cafe, Susie Sushi, village offices, and the Metra station within a couple blocks of one another.
- Norge Ski Club
- Founded 1905 on the hill overlooking the village. National-stage ski jumping facility plus member cottages.
- Lions Park (on the Fox River)
- 6-acre park with playground, baseball field, sand volleyball, basketball, and a canoe launch on the river.
- Foxmoor subdivision
- 1978-1994 single-family and townhouse, walkable to downtown and Metra.
- Schools
- Fox River Grove CSD 3 (PreK-8) inside the village, then Cary-Grove HS in D155.
What it’s actually like to live here
Fox River Grove is the McHenry County village that lives most like a true Metra suburb. The UP-NW station sits in the heart of the downtown commercial strip on Northwest Highway, and walkable subdivisions like Foxmoor sit a few blocks off it, which is rare for a town this small. That walk-to-train factor is what holds Fox River Grove's home values up: typical homes trade meaningfully higher than Cary's or Algonquin's average even though the village is half their size. Inventory is mostly midcentury through 1990s single-family on hilly wooded lots above the river, with the Foxmoor subdivision being the largest cluster of 1980s-90s detached and townhome product.
The cultural identity is Czech-roots-meets-ski-town. Norge Ski Club's 70-meter jump tower on the hill is visible across the village and runs USA-level competitions each January. Lions Park along the river hosts the long-running Lions Arts and Crafts Festival. Schools are unusual: a small standalone PreK-8 district (FRG CSD 3) feeds Cary-Grove HS in D155, and that combination means Fox River Grove parents identify strongly with Cary-Grove athletics and academics even though the elementary path is local.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Fox River Grove community pages coming soon.
Browse the listings above. Detailed neighborhood pages with market stats, school info, and lifestyle take-downs land here as we roll them out.
Schools
Districts serving Fox River Grove.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D3Grades Pre-K - 8
Fox River Grove Consolidated School District 3
Schools serving the area
- Algonquin Road School
- Fox River Grove Middle School
Small standalone elementary/middle district serving Fox River Grove only. Two schools total.
- D155Grades 9 - 12
Community High School District 155
Schools serving the area
- Cary-Grove High School
Most Fox River Grove students attend Cary-Grove HS, shared with Cary. D155 also serves Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Prairie Grove, Bull Valley, and Oakwood Hills.
From the neighborhood
Around Fox River Grove
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
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@mysterycartelCommunity Update: Construction continues next to the Metra station in downtown Crystal Lake as Depot Park and surrounding public spaces undergo upgrades to improve walkability, landscaping, lighting,
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@nicolefromchicagoAround town
What there is to do in Fox River Grove.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Culture
Norge Ski Club
Founded 1905, oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States. 70-meter jumping scaffold; hosts the annual Norge Winter Tournament every January.
- Parks
Lions Park
6-acre park on the Fox River with playground, baseball field, sand volleyball, basketball, and a canoe launch. Site of the long-running Lions Arts and Crafts Festival.
- Parks
Picnic Grove Park
Canoe launch on the Fox plus picnic area; site of the original 1850s Opatrny picnic grove that drew Chicago day-trippers.
- Food & Drink
Brunch Cafe
Longstanding breakfast and lunch anchor on Northwest Highway in the downtown strip.
- Parks
Fox River boating and fishing
Village sits on the smooth-water stretch of the Fox above the Algonquin dam. Canoe and kayak access from Lions Park and Picnic Grove.
- Parks
Veteran Acres (Crystal Lake, nearby)
~300 acres of glacial terrain, ski trails, and Illinois Nature Preserves in the next town over.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Fox River Grove.
MetraUP-NW line
- Stations: Fox River Grove
- Terminal: Chicago Ogilvie (OTC)
- Distance: 37.3 miles to downtown Chicago
DriveBy car
- Routes: U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway) · Algonquin Road · IL 31 (just west)
- O'Hare Airport: ~38 min
- Chicago Loop: ~58 min
By the numbers
Fox River Grove taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.31%
effective avg
Sales tax
8.25%
combined
Median sold price
$385,050
MRED · last 12 mo (70 sales)
Median household income
$125,104
ACS
How Fox River Grove got here
A bit of history.
The land was Ojibwe (Chippewa) wintering ground into the 1860s, and the earliest European settlers were Czech immigrants who came west from Chicago and built a Bohemian enclave along the Fox River starting in the 1850s. Frank Opatrny bought 80 acres on the river's south bank in 1850; his son Eman turned the homestead into a regionally famous Picnic Grove that drew Chicago day-trippers. The Chicago & North Western Railroad arrived in 1854 and bridged the river, turning the Grove from homesteads into an early resort spot for fishing, boating, and weekend outings.
The village officially incorporated on August 21, 1919, becoming the ninth municipality in McHenry County. The C&NW (now Union Pacific) rail bridge remains the village's defining feature: Fox River Grove's Metra station on the UP-NW line is 37.3 miles from Ogilvie and serves as the village's commuter front door. The Norge Ski Club, founded in 1905 on a hill overlooking town, is the oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States and remains the village's national-stage cultural anchor, hosting the Norge Winter Ski Jump Tournament every January.
The questions buyers actually ask
Fox River Grove FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Fox River Grove. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What's the Metra commute like?
- The Fox River Grove station is on the UP-NW line, 37.3 miles to Ogilvie Transportation Center, with about 52 weekday trains. A typical inbound run downtown is about an hour. The station has village parking and is a short walk from downtown and Foxmoor.
- Where do kids go to school?
- Elementary and middle school inside the village at Fox River Grove CSD 3 (Algonquin Road School and Fox River Grove Middle). High school is Cary-Grove HS in Community High School District 155, shared with Cary.
- Is there a real downtown?
- Yes, a compact commercial strip along Northwest Highway with cafes (Brunch Cafe, Susie Sushi), village offices, and the Metra station within a couple blocks of one another. Walkable from older subdivisions like Foxmoor.
- How are home prices vs. Cary?
- Median home value sits in the high $300K to mid $400K range for typical inventory, with properties walking distance to the Metra commanding a premium. The village is smaller and lower volume than Cary, so inventory is tight, and homes near the train tend to move faster than the average McHenry County listing.
- What is Norge Ski Club and is it really still active?
- Yes. Founded 1905, oldest continuously open ski club in the country, 70-meter scaffold on a hill in the village, four training jumps, member cottages and clubhouse. The annual Norge Winter Ski Jump Tournament happens every January and draws national and international jumpers.
- Drive vs. train to the Loop?
- Drive is about 58 minutes / 40 miles to the Loop and 38 minutes / 29 miles to O'Hare, but the real value of the village is the train. Most commuters take the UP-NW from inside the village rather than driving to a bigger station.
Nearby
Towns next to Fox River Grove.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Fox River Grove.
Your local agent
Joe knows Fox River Grove
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the places I actually know, and the things that move value here don't show up in the MLS write-up: which streets and buildings hold demand, what the HOA or assessments really cover, how the comps read once you account for condition and location, and where buyers consistently want to be.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who has read the last 50 closed comps in this specific market, not a national average, and can tell you what they actually mean for your price. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Licensed Illinois broker
- Comp-driven pricing
- Fox River Grove specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Thinking of selling?
What's your home actually worth?
Not a Zestimate. A real CMA from someone who's sold this neighborhood, knows the floor plan premiums, and can tell you which upgrades the buyer pool here actually pays for.
- Pricing range with comp-by-comp logic
- Pre-list improvements that pay back, and the ones that don't
- No obligation, no spam, no auto-dialer