Harvard, IL·CUSD 50
Homes in the
Harvard HS district.
Harvard is the friendly farm town at the far northwest edge of McHenry County, where Milk Days, a grain-country downtown, and the last stop on the Metra line add up to small-town living that still connects to Chicago.
- Homes for sale
- 18
- Typical list
- $349,950
- Most expensive
- $5,995,000
- Most affordable
- $214,900
19802 Dunham Road →
805 Garfield Street →
Hornets · Black & Gold · 798 students · Kishwaukee River Conference
Active listings
18 homes on the market
$
to$
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Market snapshot
The Harvard HS area, by the numbers
Live MRED data, refreshed daily. What this market is actually doing right now, sales included, not a portal estimate.
Homes for sale now
22
Typical list price
$349,900
Avg time on market
22 days
Sold in the last year
40
Typical sale price · last 90 days
$328,000
What it's like to live here
Around Harvard
Real local creators on TikTok. Tap a tile to play it right here.
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@kitschnsinkSummer Moon Coffee in Crystal Lake 📍625 Cog Cir d Is there anything better than a local coffee shop? My answer is No. ☕️ @summermooncrystallake recently celebrated their 3rd anniversary! They're
@westofthefoxROCKIN’ RIBFEST in Lake in the Hills Illinois FYP TOO LOCAL?!? Comment where you’re from in the Chicagoland or Illinois suburbs #summer #summervibes #thingstodo #chicagosuburbs #huntley #lakeinthehi
@nicolefromchicagoLiving near Harvard HS
The area, not just the school
Harvard sits in the far northwest corner of McHenry County, about four miles south of the Wisconsin border and roughly 63 miles from downtown Chicago. It is proudly rural and agricultural, calling itself the Milk Capital of the World, an identity that is front and center every June when the city throws Harvard Milk Days, one of the longest-running festivals in Illinois. The celebration has run since the 1940s, complete with a parade, and it is presided over by Harmilda, the beloved cow statue that stands in a small park at the center of town.
What makes Harvard unusual for a town this rural is the train. Harvard is the end of the line for Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line, and its station is the single most remote point in the entire Metra system, about 63 miles from downtown, with daily service to Ogilvie Transportation Center. That means a family can live surrounded by working farmland and open country and still put a parent on a one-seat ride into the Loop. For buyers, the draw is straightforward: space, quiet, and value. Harvard is consistently one of the most affordable places to buy in McHenry County, with a small, walkable historic downtown and a genuine farm-town character that has held on even as the collar counties have grown.
🚆End of the Metra line
The last stop on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, the most remote point in the Metra system.
🐄Milk Capital of the World
Harvard Milk Days runs every June, one of Illinois's longest-running festivals.
🎓Home of the Hornets
Grades 9 to 12 in Harvard CUSD 50, black and gold.
🏫Established 1921
Renovated many times since, most recently in 2014.
🌽Farm-town character
Far northwest McHenry County, about four miles south of Wisconsin.
🏡Among the county's most affordable
Regularly cited as one of the most affordable places to buy in McHenry County.
The school
About Harvard High School
Harvard High School opened in 1921 and has undergone many renovations across its history, the most recent in 2014, which added a new wing to the second floor and remodeled the cafeteria. It is a four-year public high school and part of Harvard Community Unit School District 50, which also runs Harvard Junior High School and several elementary schools serving the city.
Harvard High School competes as the Hornets in the Kishwaukee River Conference, in school colors of black and gold.
- District
- CUSD 50
- Founded
- 1921
- Principal
- Carl Hobbs
- Conference
- Kishwaukee River Conference
- Address
- 1103 N Jefferson Street, Harvard, IL 60033
Facts on this page sourced from Wikipedia and the District CUSD 50 website. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Listings filtered by the school the MRED listing agent assigned. Roughly 7 in 10 active listings have this field populated; the remaining listings will surface once the school-district boundary pipeline ships. School assignment is not a guarantee. Always verify with the district before writing an offer.
The questions buyers actually ask
Harvard HS FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping the Harvard HS district. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What school district serves Harvard, IL?
- Harvard is served by Harvard Community Unit School District 50 (CUSD 50), which runs the schools right in town: Harvard High School for grades 9 to 12, Harvard Junior High for grades 6 to 8, and elementary schools for the younger grades.
- Can I commute to Chicago from Harvard by train?
- Yes, and it is one of Harvard's best-kept secrets. Harvard is the final stop on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line, with daily service straight into Ogilvie Transportation Center. Because it is the end of the line, you can often get a seat before the train fills up.
- Is Harvard an affordable place to buy a home?
- It is one of the more affordable markets in McHenry County, which makes it a strong pick for first-time buyers and anyone who wants more house and land for the money while staying inside the county.
- What is Harvard known for?
- Harvard calls itself the Milk Capital of the World and celebrates Harvard Milk Days every June, one of the longest-running festivals in Illinois. Downtown you will meet Harmilda, the landmark cow statue in a little park. It is a genuine farm town with real hometown character.
- Is Harvard rural or suburban, and how do I find homes here?
- Rural, in the best sense. Harvard sits at the far northwest edge of McHenry County surrounded by working farmland, with a small historic downtown at its heart, plus that Metra line back to the city when you need it. The listings here are filtered to homes whose MRED agent assigned Harvard as the high school. For alerts on new homes in town, text 224-385-8779.
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This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC for the period July 4, 2025 through July 4, 2026. Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.