The Town FilesMarengo, Illinois
City in McHenry County · population 7,568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,900
- Household income
- $73,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 31.9
Marengo is a city of 7,568 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $229,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Marengo 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 Marengo is worth $229,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $73,523, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,176 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marengo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,176 | $960 |
| Median household income | $73,523 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marengo
| People | Marengo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Marengo
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 30.8 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marengo since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 24. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 490 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.50 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 Marengo itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Public schools in Marengo
5 public schools with 2,031 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marengo High School | 9-12 | 689 | 14.4 |
| Locust Elem School | PK-3 | 538 | 15.8 |
| Marengo Comm Middle School | 6-8 | 318 | 15.9 |
| Riley Comm Cons School | K-8 | 261 | 11.9 |
| Ulysses S Grant Intermediate Sch | 4-5 | 225 | 15.0 |
Towns near Marengo
- Woodstock, IL9.4 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
- Hampshire, IL10.1 mi · 7,667 people · home $329,800
- Huntley, IL10.2 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
- Lakewood, IL10.9 mi · 4,283 people · home $552,600
- Genoa, IL11.8 mi · 5,298 people · home $225,200
- Harvard, IL12.7 mi · 9,469 people · home $175,400
- Crystal Lake, IL13.5 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- Pingree Grove, IL13.9 mi · 10,365 people · home $320,800
Marengo questions
Is Marengo, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marengo scores better for retirees than 46% of Illinois towns and quieter than 37%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.9).
How much does a house cost in Marengo?
The median owner-occupied home in Marengo is valued at $229,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,523, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,176 a month.
What is the weather like in Marengo?
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 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Marengo get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marengo 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)