What are the schools like in Wonder Lake, IL?

Wonder Lake is served primarily by Harrison SD 36. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Wonder Lake?

The median household income in Wonder Lake, IL is $99,844 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Wonder Lake, IL?

Wonder Lake has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Wonder Lake, IL affordable or expensive?

Wonder Lake's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wonder Lake is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $226,500 and the median rent is $1,055 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wonder Lake, IL?

Wonder Lake has a violent crime rate of 19.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 495.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wonder Lake, IL a Good Place to Live?

Wonder Lake is a small town of 3,833 in Illinois, with a median household income of $99,844 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wonder Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wonder Lake 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

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

Metric	Wonder Lake, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$226,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,055	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	93.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$99,844	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wonder Lake's violent crime rate is 19.1 per 100,000 residents — 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

19.1 /100k

Property Crime

495.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wonder Lake is served primarily by Harrison SD 36. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wonder Lake, IL	National Avg
School District	Harrison SD 36	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wonder Lake sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wonder Lake, IL
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Wonder Lake, IL	National Avg
Population	3,833	—
Median Age	36.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	26.9%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Greenwood, IL 2 mi Ringwood, IL 3 mi McCullom Lake, IL 3 mi Bull Valley, IL 4 mi McHenry, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wonder Lake

Wonder Lake, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60097

Wonder Lake vs Other Cities

Wonder Lake, IL vs Greenwood, IL Wonder Lake, IL vs Ringwood, IL Wonder Lake, IL vs McCullom Lake, IL Wonder Lake, IL vs Bull Valley, IL Wonder Lake, IL vs McHenry, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wonder Lake, IL affordable or expensive?

Wonder Lake's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wonder Lake roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $226,500 and median rent is $1,055/month.

What is the crime rate in Wonder Lake, IL?

Wonder Lake's violent crime rate is 19.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 495.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wonder Lake?

Public schools in Wonder Lake are operated by Harrison SD 36. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wonder Lake, IL a good place to live?

Wonder Lake, IL has a population of 3,833, a median household income of $99,844, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. 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 Wonder Lake?

Wonder Lake averages 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wonder Lake?

Wonder Lake, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60097.

What is the population of Wonder Lake?

The population of Wonder Lake, Illinois is 3,833 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wonder Lake?

Key numbers for living in Wonder Lake: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $226,500, median household income $99,844, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wonder Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.