1985 · Chicago & North Western CNW 4415 (GP15-1) · Wikimedia Commons
Harvard’s story
159 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1867Harvard is settled
- 1985Chicago & North Western CNW 4415 (GP15-1)
HarvardIL
A town of 9,598, settled in 1867. A typical home worth about $279K.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Cosmo1976 · CC BY 3.0
Population
9,598
+0.2% since 2010
Typical home
$279K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
28.0
years
Jobs based here
2,980
A commuter town
What makes Harvard stand out
The 3 things Harvard does most differently from other towns.
$279Ktypical home
Housing
$279K typical home
6% below the IL typical home
Up 3.4% in a year.
100 U.S. towns● Harvard
Health
53% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than IL on 2 measures, worse on 12.
100 U.S. towns● Harvard
Safety
Safer than 71%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade B+. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
A commuter town
86% of working residents leave Harvard for work
Where Harvard’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,980jobs based in Harvard
14%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Harvard’s report card
Now in Harvard
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Harvard is #9 of 691 in IL for “Fastest-rising home prices”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Harvard’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Harvard. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Harvard home is worth about $279K
The typical Harvard home is worth about $279,000, up 3.4% in a year, 6% below the Illinois typical home.
$279KZillow home value
Typical home value
Harvard$279K
Illinois$298K
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 47% of U.S. towns
Harvard beats the Illinois average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
2 better18 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Harvard | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.1% | 7.6% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| More uninsured adults | 18.1% | 9.9% |
Mercy Harvard Hospital
0.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
37th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 10% of U.S. communities.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
8
paid flood claims since 1999
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Harvard
Most working residents leave Harvard for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Chicago (8%), Woodstock (6%) and McHenry (3%). Half commute less than 23 miles.
14%work in town
Where working residents work
In Harvard14%
Chicago8%
Woodstock6%
McHenry3%
Crystal Lake3%
23 mi
median commute distance
2,980
jobs based in Harvard
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 71% of U.S. towns
Harvard reports less crime per resident than 71% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
B+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Harvard0.9
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Harvard5.5
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
71st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
56th
percentile among IL towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
52
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Harvard has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–31°
Spring36–58°
Summer59–81°
Fall40–60°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
2.1% of Harvard is conserved land
2.6 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves.
2.1%conserved
2.1%
conserved · 113 of 5,332 acres
2.6 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Milky Way Park | 0.4 mi | 47 |
| 2. Northfield Avenue Park | 0.3 mi | 8 |
| 3. Lions Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Famous people from Harvard
13 notable people were born in Harvard.
P
Paul GalvinAmerican businessman · 1895–1959B
Bobby CookAmerican basketball player · 1923–2004
About Harvard
City in Illinois, United States
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 9,469 at the 2020 census. The city is 63 miles from the Chicago Loop and it is the last stop on the Union Pacific Northwest Line.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1867
- Population
- 9,469
- Area
- 8.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 922 ft
- ZIP code
- 60033
Harvard’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Harvard.
LawrenceHarvard
More about Harvard
Still missing for Harvard:local news coverageupcoming events