The Town FilesFox River Grove, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 4,702 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $298,900
- Household income
- $121,506
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 43.0
Fox River Grove is a village of 4,702 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $298,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Illinois towns, better for families than 94% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Fox River Grove 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 Fox River Grove is worth $298,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $121,506, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $2,210 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fox River Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $298,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $2,210 | $960 |
| Median household income | $121,506 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fox River Grove
| People | Fox River Grove | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 22.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Fox River Grove
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fox River Grove 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 0.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 176 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
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 Fox River Grove itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Fox River Grove
2 public schools with 429 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Road Elem School | PK-4 | 244 | 12.2 |
| Fox River Grove Middle School | 5-8 | 185 | 11.6 |
Towns near Fox River Grove
- Cary, IL2.1 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Lake Barrington, IL2.5 mi · 5,100 people · home $475,700
- Barrington Hills, IL4.0 mi · 4,114 people · home $913,600
- North Barrington, IL4.5 mi · 3,171 people · home $765,900
- Lake in the Hills, IL5.3 mi · 28,982 people · home $321,900
- Barrington, IL5.4 mi · 10,722 people · home $582,500
- Island Lake, IL5.8 mi · 8,051 people · home $262,500
- Algonquin, IL6.0 mi · 29,700 people · home $351,000
Fox River Grove questions
Is Fox River Grove, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fox River Grove scores better for retirees than 64% of Illinois towns and quieter than 43%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Fox River Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Fox River Grove is valued at $298,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,506, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $2,210 a month.
What is the weather like in Fox River Grove?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.5 inches of snow.
Does Fox River Grove get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fox River Grove 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)