What are the schools like in McHenry, IL?

McHenry is served primarily by McHenry CCSD 15. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in McHenry?

The median household income in McHenry, IL is $83,651 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in McHenry, IL?

McHenry has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

McHenry, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is McHenry, IL affordable or expensive?

McHenry's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means McHenry is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $227,300 and the median rent is $1,456 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in McHenry, IL?

McHenry has a violent crime rate of 94.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 619.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is McHenry, IL a Good Place to Live?

McHenry is a small city of 27,493 in Illinois, with a median household income of $83,651 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: McHenry stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether McHenry is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All McHenry city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

McHenry's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in McHenry costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	McHenry, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$227,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,456	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$83,651	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

McHenry's violent crime rate is 94.5 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

94.5 /100k

Property Crime

619.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

McHenry is served primarily by McHenry CCSD 15. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	McHenry, IL	National Avg
School District	McHenry CCSD 15	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

McHenry sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	McHenry, IL
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	37.0"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	McHenry, IL	National Avg
Population	27,493	—
Median Age	43.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	20.2%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

McCullom Lake, IL 2 mi Bull Valley, IL 4 mi Johnsburg, IL 4 mi Holiday Hills, IL 4 mi Ringwood, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in McHenry

McHenry, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60050

McHenry vs Other Cities

McHenry, IL vs McCullom Lake, IL McHenry, IL vs Bull Valley, IL McHenry, IL vs Johnsburg, IL McHenry, IL vs Holiday Hills, IL McHenry, IL vs Ringwood, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is McHenry, IL affordable or expensive?

McHenry's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts McHenry roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $227,300 and median rent is $1,456/month.

What is the crime rate in McHenry, IL?

McHenry's violent crime rate is 94.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 619.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in McHenry?

Public schools in McHenry are operated by McHenry CCSD 15. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is McHenry, IL a good place to live?

McHenry, IL has a population of 27,493, a median household income of $83,651, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in McHenry?

McHenry averages 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in McHenry?

McHenry, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60050.

What is the population of McHenry?

The population of McHenry, Illinois is 27,493 with a median age of 43.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in McHenry?

Key numbers for living in McHenry: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $227,300, median household income $83,651, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McHenry side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.