The Town FilesMcHenry, Illinois
City in McHenry County · population 27,135 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,500
- Household income
- $86,315
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.9
McHenry is a city of 27,135 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $266,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 83% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 73% of Illinois towns, better transit than 73% of Illinois towns.
How McHenry 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 McHenry is worth $266,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $86,315, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,553 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | McHenry | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,553 | $960 |
| Median household income | $86,315 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in McHenry
| People | McHenry | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in McHenry
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McHenry 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 7.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 116 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 9, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2018.
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 McHenry itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in McHenry
11 public schools with 6,280 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry Community High School | 9-12 | 2,231 | 15.3 |
| McHenry Middle School | 6-8 | 695 | 11.8 |
| Parkland School | 6-8 | 678 | 11.5 |
| Riverwood Elementary School | K-5 | 615 | 12.8 |
| Valley View Elem School | K-5 | 508 | 12.4 |
| Edgebrook Elem School | PK-3 | 500 | 10.9 |
| Hilltop Elem School | K-3 | 439 | 12.5 |
| Chauncey H Duker School | 4-5 | 421 | 11.4 |
| Landmark Elem School | K-5 | 193 | 14.8 |
| Innovation Academy | 4-12 | — | — |
| Evergreen Academy | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near McHenry
- Wonder Lake, IL3.9 mi · 3,973 people · home $252,200
- Johnsburg, IL4.0 mi · 6,355 people · home $328,300
- Lakemoor, IL4.5 mi · 6,182 people · home $265,500
- Island Lake, IL6.1 mi · 8,051 people · home $262,500
- Pistakee Highlands, IL6.2 mi · 3,237 people · home $216,800
- Volo, IL6.8 mi · 6,122 people · home $319,700
- Crystal Lake, IL7.4 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- Woodstock, IL7.6 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
McHenry questions
Is McHenry, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McHenry scores better for retirees than 48% of Illinois towns and quieter than 35%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in McHenry?
The median owner-occupied home in McHenry is valued at $266,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,315, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,553 a month.
What is the weather like in McHenry?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does McHenry get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McHenry 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)