The Town FilesPort Barrington, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 1,584 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $379,600
- Household income
- $149,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.4
Port Barrington is a village of 1,584 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $379,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 85% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Port Barrington ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Port Barrington is worth $379,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $149,886, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,900 a month. 97.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Barrington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $379,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,900 | $960 |
| Median household income | $149,886 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Port Barrington
| People | Port Barrington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.1% | — |
| Work from home | 23.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Port Barrington
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Barrington since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 3.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 176 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 12, 2014.
Severe weather in McHenry County since 1996
McHenry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in McHenry County
McHenry County had 96,922 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,107 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Port Barrington itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Port Barrington
- Oakwood Hills, IL2.3 mi · 2,076 people · home $282,300
- Tower Lakes, IL2.3 mi · 1,226 people · home $510,300
- Island Lake, IL2.4 mi · 8,051 people · home $262,500
- Lake Barrington, IL2.7 mi · 5,100 people · home $475,700
- Fox River Grove, IL3.5 mi · 4,702 people · home $298,900
- Cary, IL3.6 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Wauconda, IL3.8 mi · 14,084 people · home $278,600
- Holiday Hills, IL4.0 mi · 618 people · home $220,600
Port Barrington questions
Is Port Barrington, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Barrington scores better for retirees than 32% of Illinois towns and quieter than 36%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Port Barrington?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Barrington is valued at $379,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $149,886, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,900 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Barrington?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Port Barrington get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Barrington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)