McHenry · McHenry County · IL
Homes for sale in
McHenry Shores.
- Active listings
- 1
- Median list
- $399K
- Avg time on market
- 56 days
- Sold · last year
- 19
Active listings
1 home on the market
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About the community
A water-oriented Fox River neighborhood a couple of miles south of downtown McHenry.
McHenry Shores is an established riverfront pocket inside the City of McHenry, set along the west side of the Fox River about two miles south of downtown. It is a mature, tree-shaded, boater-friendly neighborhood rather than a new master-plan: homes fill a grid of quiet streets that run back from the river and its channels, many with private docks or piers, and the Fox connects upstream to the Chain O'Lakes, the region's signature boating draw. The housing is mostly single-family and mid-century in character, with a neighborhood beach park on the river as the local gathering spot.
At a glance
On the Fox River
West-bank neighborhood with channel-front and riverfront homes, many with private docks.
Chain O'Lakes access
The Fox connects upstream to the Chain O'Lakes; a Fox Waterway Agency sticker is generally required.
McHenry Shores Beach Park
A neighborhood riverfront park with open space, seating, and a popular local fishing spot.
Established single-family homes
Mostly ranches, raised ranches, and Colonials, with some townhomes near the water.
Mature and tree-shaded
An older, settled neighborhood where privacy comes from tree cover rather than large lots.
McHenry schools
Served by McHenry CCSD 15 and McHenry Community HSD 156; confirm the assigned buildings by address.
Hospital close by
Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital is roughly two miles away.
Metra terminus in town
The McHenry station anchors a branch of the UP-NW line to downtown Chicago.
What’s close
McHenry Shores sits on the west side of the Fox River in the City of McHenry, with IL-31 the main road north to downtown and everyday shopping.
- On the water
- The Fox River, the neighborhood's channels and docks, and McHenry Shores Beach Park.
- Shopping
- Downtown McHenry and the IL-31 and IL-120 retail corridors a short drive north.
- Hospital
- Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, about two miles away.
- Highway
- IL-31 and IL-120 for daily driving; US-12 for longer trips toward O'Hare.
- Schools
- McHenry CCSD 15 for elementary and middle, McHenry Community HSD 156 for high school.
- Train
- Metra's McHenry station, the terminus of a UP-NW branch to Ogilvie in downtown Chicago.
What it’s actually like to live here
Life in McHenry Shores is organized around the water. For many residents the Fox River functions like a second main street: channel and riverfront owners can push off from the backyard and run upstream to the Chain O'Lakes for a day on the water, and even mainland homes are within about a mile of the river and the neighborhood's beach park. Fishing, boating, and birding at nearby Moraine Hills State Park give the area a genuine four-seasons, outdoors rhythm, and the streets stay quiet and tree-shaded a couple of miles removed from downtown's activity.
It stays connected despite feeling tucked away. Downtown McHenry's shops, restaurants, and year-round events are a short drive north, IL-31 puts everyday errands close, Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital is just up the road, and the Metra terminus in town makes a car-free commute to downtown Chicago possible if not fast. That mix of water access and in-town convenience is the neighborhood's real appeal.
The honest tradeoffs are age, taxes, and flood risk. This is an older, established area, so expect mid-century housing stock and homes set fairly close together rather than new construction on big lots, and McHenry County property taxes run high. Most important, the same river that defines the lifestyle brings flood exposure: homes on higher ground west of the Fox are better protected, but anyone considering a waterfront or channel property should study the flood zone, elevation, and insurance implications carefully before committing.
The questions buyers actually ask
McHenry Shores FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping McHenry Shores. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What are property taxes like?
- Roughly $5,500 – $11,000 per year, depending on home size and value. McHenry County assessor records are the source of truth. Happy to pull a specific bill on any home you're considering.
- Is McHenry Shores on the water, and can I keep a boat there?
- Yes. It is a Fox River neighborhood on the west bank, and many channel-front and riverfront homes have private docks or piers, with the river connecting to the Chain O'Lakes. Travel on this waterway generally requires a Fox Waterway Agency sticker, and dock rights vary by property, so confirm both for any specific home.
- What kind of homes are in McHenry Shores?
- Mostly single-family: ranches, raised ranches, and Colonials, with some townhomes near the water. It is an established neighborhood with much of the housing dating from the mid-1950s through the 1990s, so expect mature trees and mid-century character rather than new construction.
- Is there an HOA?
- No community-wide mandatory HOA was confirmed for McHenry Shores. Some waterfront or townhome sections may carry their own dues or dock arrangements, so confirm HOA or POA status on the specific property you are considering.
- What schools serve McHenry Shores?
- The area is in McHenry CCSD 15 for elementary and middle and McHenry Community HSD 156 for high school. District 15 uses grade-banded buildings and does not publish a simple neighborhood lookup, so verify the exact assigned schools with the districts before relying on a specific building.
- Should I worry about flooding on a riverfront home?
- It is worth real diligence. Homes on higher ground west of the Fox are better protected, but waterfront and channel properties can sit in a flood zone. Check the FEMA flood map, the elevation certificate, and flood-insurance requirements for the specific parcel before you make an offer.
- What do homes cost and how is the market right now?
- Prices span from attainable mainland homes up to premium riverfront-with-dock properties, and conditions move over time. For current pricing, inventory, and how quickly homes are selling, check the live Market snapshot on this page rather than relying on a fixed number.
- Who is the real estate agent for McHenry Shores?
- Joe Keegan is the local licensed Illinois real estate broker who covers McHenry Shores in McHenry, IL through Subdiview, a neighborhood-first home search for the Chicago suburbs and collar counties. Joe prices and negotiates from the live MRED sold comps for McHenry Shores specifically, not national averages, and can help you buy or sell here. Reach Joe at 224-385-8779 or joe@joekeeganhomes.com.
Your local agent
Joe knows McHenry Shores
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
- McHenry specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Market snapshot
McHenry Shores, by the numbers
Live MRED data, refreshed daily. The numbers below tell you what this market is doing today, not what Zillow's algorithm thinks it might be doing six weeks from now.
Typical list price
$399,000
Typical sale price · last 90 days
$395,000
Homes for sale right now
1
Avg time on market
56 days
Sold in the last year
19
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC for the period July 31, 2025 through July 31, 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.
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
Schools serving McHenry Shores
Where McHenry Shores homes go to school
Homes in McHenry Shores are most often zoned to McHenry CHS. Open a school to see its area, the district, and every home for sale that feeds it.
School assignment is derived from the school the MRED listing agent entered and is not a guarantee. Always verify current attendance boundaries with the district before writing an offer.
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