The Town FilesCrystal Lake, Illinois
City in McHenry County · population 40,269 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,400
- Household income
- $108,418
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.3
Crystal Lake is a city of 40,269 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $311,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 85% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 84% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake is worth $311,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $108,418, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,468 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crystal Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,468 | $960 |
| Median household income | $108,418 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Crystal Lake
| People | Crystal Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Crystal Lake
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal Lake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 216 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 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 Crystal Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Crystal Lake
19 public schools with 11,838 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake Central High School | 9-12 | 1,498 | 18.0 |
| Crystal Lake South High School | 9-12 | 1,291 | 17.4 |
| Prairie Ridge High School | 9-12 | 1,138 | 15.8 |
| Hannah Beardsley Middle School | 6-8 | 831 | 14.3 |
| Lundahl Middle School | 6-8 | 794 | 13.5 |
| Richard F Bernotas Middle Sch | 6-8 | 759 | 11.9 |
| North Elem School | K-5 | 657 | 14.3 |
| Coventry Elem School | K-5 | 641 | 13.9 |
| West Elem School | K-5 | 536 | 14.5 |
| Prairie Grove Elem School | PK-4 | 533 | 12.4 |
| Woods Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 533 | 13.0 |
| Husmann Elem School | K-5 | 505 | 16.3 |
Towns near Crystal Lake
- Lakewood, IL2.7 mi · 4,283 people · home $552,600
- Lake in the Hills, IL3.8 mi · 28,982 people · home $321,900
- Cary, IL4.6 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Algonquin, IL5.1 mi · 29,700 people · home $351,000
- Fox River Grove, IL6.6 mi · 4,702 people · home $298,900
- Huntley, IL7.2 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
- Woodstock, IL7.4 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
- McHenry, IL7.4 mi · 27,135 people · home $266,500
Crystal Lake questions
Is Crystal Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crystal Lake scores better for retirees than 20% of Illinois towns and quieter than 19%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Crystal Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Crystal Lake is valued at $311,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,418, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,468 a month.
What is the weather like in Crystal Lake?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.1 inches of snow.
Does Crystal Lake get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal Lake 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)