The Town FilesAlgonquin, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 29,700 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $351,000
- Household income
- $134,525
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 41.4
Algonquin is a village of 29,700 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $351,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 87% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 87% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 84% of Illinois towns.
How Algonquin 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 Algonquin is worth $351,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $134,525, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,723 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Algonquin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,723 | $960 |
| Median household income | $134,525 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Algonquin
| People | Algonquin | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Algonquin
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Algonquin 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 2.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 175 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 96 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2013.
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 Algonquin itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Algonquin
12 public schools with 6,861 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry D Jacobs High School | 9-12 | 2,062 | 14.8 |
| Westfield Community School | PK-8 | 1,337 | 14.5 |
| Heineman Middle School | 6-8 | 756 | 13.7 |
| Conley Elementary School | 3-5 | 565 | 12.8 |
| Mackeben Elementary School | K-2 | 529 | 13.9 |
| Kenneth E Neubert Elem School | K-5 | 437 | 12.9 |
| Algonquin Middle School | 6-8 | 396 | 9.7 |
| Algonquin Lakes Elem Sch | K-5 | 395 | 13.2 |
| Eastview Elem School | PK-5 | 384 | 11.0 |
| NIA-D/HH MS Prgrm | Other | — | — |
| NIA-D/HH PK-Elem Prgrm | Other | — | — |
| Success Academy 4-5 | 4-5 | — | — |
Towns near Algonquin
- Lake in the Hills, IL1.4 mi · 28,982 people · home $321,900
- Carpentersville, IL2.9 mi · 37,983 people · home $234,100
- West Dundee, IL3.9 mi · 7,686 people · home $360,800
- Gilberts, IL4.3 mi · 8,366 people · home $347,300
- Sleepy Hollow, IL4.8 mi · 3,214 people · home $382,800
- Crystal Lake, IL5.1 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- Cary, IL5.2 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Lakewood, IL5.6 mi · 4,283 people · home $552,600
Algonquin questions
Is Algonquin, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Algonquin scores better for retirees than 22% of Illinois towns and quieter than 27%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Algonquin?
The median owner-occupied home in Algonquin is valued at $351,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,525, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,723 a month.
What is the weather like in Algonquin?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Algonquin get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Algonquin 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)