Trout Valley · McHenry County · IL
Homes for sale in
Trout Valley.
- Active listings
- 3
- Median list
- $700K
- Avg time on market
- 5 days
- Sold · last year
- 5
Active listings
3 homes on the market
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About the community
Living in Trout Valley.
Trout Valley is one of the smallest and most private addresses in southeastern McHenry County, a village of about 500 residents tucked against the north side of the Fox River next to Cary. It was carved out of a former gilded-age country estate, and that history still shapes the place: large lots, a homeowners association with equestrian, tennis, swimming, and marina amenities, and essentially no through-traffic or commercial activity. Because the village runs no schools, police, or fire department of its own, buyers here lean on Cary for those services while keeping a quiet, semi-rural setting. This is an established, higher-income market rather than a starter-home area, with a near-total homeownership rate and a 2024 median household income above $217,000. Day to day, residents commute via the Cary or Fox River Grove Metra stations on the Union Pacific Northwest line, or drive US-14 toward O'Hare.
At a glance
~500 residents
The 2020 census counted 515 residents in a village of just 0.43 square miles, one of the smallest municipalities in McHenry County.
Median income ~$217k
2024 median household income of about $217,292 with a homeownership rate of roughly 98 percent.
Cary schools
Served by Cary CCSD 26 for elementary and junior high and Community High School District 155 for high school; the village runs no schools of its own.
Fox River setting
The village rests against the Fox River and contains small ponds and streams, with a community marina and boat ramp maintained by the homeowners association.
UP-NW Metra nearby
The Cary and Fox River Grove stations on the Union Pacific Northwest line provide commuter rail into downtown Chicago.
Trout Valley Association
The homeowners association, established in 1965, maintains facilities for equestrian sports, tennis, swimming, and a Fox River marina.
No commercial district
Trout Valley is almost entirely residential with no commercial corridor; residents rely on neighboring Cary for shopping and services.
Historic estate gates
The arched iron entrance gates at Cary-Algonquin Road, dating to the 1920s, were designated a local landmark in 2006.
What’s close
Trout Valley sits on the north side of the Fox River just east of Cary, reached from Cary-Algonquin Road, with US Route 14 the main regional artery and the Metra UP-NW line running through neighboring Cary and Fox River Grove.
- Fox River
- The village sits on the north side of the Fox River, with a community marina and boat ramp for river access.
- Roads and access
- The village entrance is at Cary-Algonquin Road; US Route 14 (Northwest Highway) is the main regional artery through neighboring Cary.
- Downtown Cary
- Adjacent Cary offers the nearest downtown, with shops, dining, and a Metra station on the UP-NW line.
- Fox River Grove
- The neighboring village of Fox River Grove sits just across the river area, connected to Cary by the Route 14 bridge.
- Conservation land
- The Hollows Conservation Area around Lake Atwood and the Three Oaks Recreation Area are both nearby in the Cary and Crystal Lake area.
- Fox River and Prairie Trails
- The regional Fox River and Prairie Trail network runs along the river corridor for biking and hiking.
What it’s actually like to live here
Daily life in Trout Valley is quiet and residential. With no commercial district and very little through-traffic, the village functions as a small enclave of large-lot homes, and the Trout Valley Association anchors community life with equestrian facilities, tennis courts, a swimming area, and a Fox River marina. Residents who want to be on the water can use the community boat ramp, and the village's small ponds and streams reinforce the semi-rural feel that traces back to the original Trout Valley Farm and trout hatchery. For shopping, dining, schools, and services, residents look to adjacent Cary, which is effectively the village's downtown.
Recreation in the surrounding area is strong for an outdoors-minded household. The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary offers more than four miles of looped trails around Lake Atwood, fishing, paddling, and camping. Three Oaks Recreation Area in nearby Crystal Lake, a reclaimed quarry, offers swim beaches, boat rentals, and paddling. The Fox River Trail and Prairie Trail systems thread the river corridor for cyclists and walkers, and Cary's park district maintains numerous parks along and near the river. Together these give Trout Valley residents river, trail, and lake access within a short drive while keeping the village itself quiet.
Neighborhoods
Detailed Trout Valley 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 Trout Valley.
Boundary lines do shift. Always confirm in writing for a specific address before writing an offer.
- D26Grades PK-8
Cary Community Consolidated School District 26
Schools serving the area
- Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center
- Briargate Elementary School
- Deer Path Elementary School
- Three Oaks Elementary School
- Cary Junior High School
Trout Valley residents attend schools in the Cary district for elementary and junior high; the village runs no schools of its own. Confirm the assigned attendance-area school by address.
- D155Grades 9-12
Community High School District 155
Schools serving the area
- Cary-Grove High School
- Crystal Lake Central High School
- Crystal Lake South High School
- Prairie Ridge High School
Cary-Grove High School serves students from Cary, Fox River Grove, Trout Valley, and surrounding areas. The district spans McHenry and Lake counties, so verify the assigned high school by address.
Around town
What there is to do in Trout Valley.
A handful of the places people who live here actually use. Not a directory.
- Parks
The Hollows Conservation Area
A 478-acre McHenry County conservation area in Cary with over four miles of looped trails around Lake Atwood, fishing, paddling, and a campground.
- Parks
Three Oaks Recreation Area
A reclaimed quarry in nearby Crystal Lake with swim beaches, boat and kayak rentals, and a designated scuba zone.
- Food & Drink
Cary Ale House & Brewing Company
A brewpub on West Main Street in downtown Cary, right off the UP-NW Metra line, with scratch-made food and on-site craft beer.
- Family
Cary Park District parks
The Cary Park District serves Cary, Fox River Grove, and Trout Valley, maintaining parks with playgrounds, courts, fields, and Fox River access.
- Parks
Fox River and Prairie Trail
A regional multi-use trail network along the Fox River corridor for biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
- Culture
Cary-Grove Area history
The Cary-Grove Countryside Fire and local heritage sites in the Cary area trace the river-town history that Trout Valley grew out of.
Getting around
Commute + transit from Trout Valley.
- Stations: Cary, Fox River Grove
- Terminal: Chicago Ogilvie (OTC)
- Routes: US 14 (Northwest Highway) · Cary-Algonquin Road · Three Oaks Road
- O'Hare Airport: ~44 min
- Chicago Loop: ~68 min
By the numbers
Trout Valley taxes + market stats.
Property tax rates vary by exact township and assessor district. Confirm per address before pricing a purchase.
Property tax rate
2.87%
effective avg
Sales tax
8.50%
combined
Median sold price
$675,000
MRED · last 12 mo (5 sales)
Median household income
$217,292
ACS
How Trout Valley got here
A bit of history.
The land that became Trout Valley was once the private estate of John D. Hertz, of Hertz car-rental fame, developed during the gilded age in the style of an English country estate with riding stables, polo grounds, trout fishing, and pheasant hunting. In 1952, Maxon Community Developers of Barrington purchased the property, then operating as the Curtiss Candy Farms, from Otto Schnering, founder of the Curtiss Candy Company. Brothers Norm and Don Maxon renamed it Trout Valley after Norman's passion for fly fishing, and Norman reestablished the trout hatchery on the grounds. The Maxons partnered with National Homes of Lafayette, Indiana to develop Trout Valley as a national showcase for modular homes, and by 1956 the development won National Home development of the year.
A homeowners association was conceived as a way to maintain the integrity of the community, and the Trout Valley Association was established in 1965 and still governs community amenities today, independent of the municipal government. Trout Valley remained unincorporated McHenry County land until it incorporated as a village on March 19, 1996. The community retains physical traces of its estate origins, including a set of arched iron gates with stone pillars at the Cary-Algonquin Road entrance, believed to date to the 1920s, which were designated a local landmark by the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission in 2006.
The questions buyers actually ask
Trout Valley FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Trout Valley. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What schools serve Trout Valley?
- Children attend Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 for elementary and junior high, with schools like Briargate, Deer Path, Three Oaks, and Cary Junior High, and Community High School District 155 for high school, with Cary-Grove High School serving the area. The village itself runs no schools, so confirm the assigned schools by address.
- How is the commute to Chicago from Trout Valley?
- Residents use the Cary or Fox River Grove Metra stations on the Union Pacific Northwest line, which runs into the Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown. By car, the Chicago Loop is roughly an hour and ten minutes and O'Hare about 45 minutes, traffic dependent.
- What are property taxes like in Trout Valley?
- The area sits in McHenry County, where the median effective property tax rate around Cary runs about 2.87 percent, higher than the national median. Combined sales tax in the Cary area is about 8.5 percent. Always verify the actual tax bill for a specific parcel.
- What is the character of Trout Valley?
- It is a small, affluent, almost entirely residential village of about 500 people on the Fox River, with no commercial district and a near-total homeownership rate. It grew out of a former gilded-age estate and is governed in part by the Trout Valley Association homeowners association.
- Is there a homeowners association, and what does it offer?
- Yes. The Trout Valley Association, established in 1965, manages community amenities including equestrian facilities, tennis, swimming, and a Fox River marina with a community boat ramp.
- Where do residents shop and dine?
- Trout Valley has no commercial district, so residents rely on neighboring Cary and Fox River Grove for downtown shopping and restaurants, including spots like Cary Ale House & Brewing Company in downtown Cary.
- Who is the real estate agent for Trout Valley?
- Joe Keegan is the local licensed Illinois real estate broker who covers Trout Valley in Trout Valley, 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 Trout Valley specifically, not national averages, and can help you buy or sell here. Reach Joe at 224-385-8779 or joe@joekeeganhomes.com.
Nearby
Towns next to Trout Valley.
If you’re cross-shopping the area, these are the places that border Trout Valley.
Your local agent
Joe knows Trout Valley
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
- Trout Valley specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Thinking of selling?
What's your home actually worth?
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- Pricing range with comp-by-comp logic
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