The Town FilesHarvard, Illinois
City in McHenry County · population 9,469 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,400
- Household income
- $67,617
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 28.0
Harvard is a city of 9,469 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $175,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Harvard 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 Harvard is worth $175,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $67,617, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,183 a month. 59.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harvard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,183 | $960 |
| Median household income | $67,617 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harvard
| People | Harvard | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 32.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Harvard
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvard since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 85 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 27, 2024.
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 Harvard itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Harvard
5 public schools with 2,499 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard High School | 9-12 | 798 | 10.9 |
| Crosby Elem Sch | K-3 | 637 | 11.0 |
| Harvard Jr High School | 6-8 | 577 | 11.8 |
| Jefferson Elem School | 4-5 | 359 | 10.6 |
| Washington Elem School | PK-PK | 128 | 21.3 |
Towns near Harvard
- Walworth, WI7.1 mi · 2,759 people · home $290,600
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI8.4 mi · 3,120 people · home $572,600
- Linn, WI9.9 mi · 2,687 people · home $537,100
- Williams Bay, WI11.0 mi · 2,953 people · home $444,700
- Delavan Lake, WI11.7 mi · 2,803 people · home $355,500
- Delavan, WI12.3 mi · 5,273 people · home $302,700
- Poplar Grove, IL12.6 mi · 5,049 people · home $270,700
- Woodstock, IL12.6 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
Harvard questions
Is Harvard, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harvard scores better for retirees than 26% of Illinois towns and quieter than 31%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in Harvard?
The median owner-occupied home in Harvard is valued at $175,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,617, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,183 a month.
What is the weather like in Harvard?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Harvard get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvard 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)