Count's House · National Register of Historic Places
McHenry’s story
154 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1872McHenry is settled
McHenryIL
A town of 28,074, settled in 1872. Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Dwatling98 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
28,074
+0.5% since 2010
Median home value
$267K
Census ACS
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
43.9
years
Jobs based here
13,346
Balanced
What makes McHenry stand out
The 3 things McHenry does most differently from other towns.
100 U.S. towns● McHenry
Health
Healthier than 74%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than IL on 5 measures, worse on 1.
Outdoors
#264 most trails in IL
7.7 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
3.2% of the town is conserved land.
100 U.S. towns● McHenry
Safety
Safer than 83%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade A−. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
McHenry’s report card
Now in McHenry
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
McHenry is #796 of 820 in IL for “Longest growing season”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in McHenry’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →55°
Clear
H 63° · L 41°
Local news
All →- Brooklyn Charmers - The Music of Steely Dan: The Vixen in McHenry, ILThe Herald Palladium · Sep 28
- Election 2026: Early voting starts Thursday in McHenry County, mail ballots to go out – what you need to knowshawlocal.com · Sep 23
- Landmark Credit Union Completes Acquisition of North Shore Bank Branch in McHenry, ILPR Newswire · Aug 31
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in McHenry. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
Homes in McHenry sell for about $307K
The median sale price was $307,000 in May 2026.
$307Kmedian sale price
Market temperature
46
days on market
100.5%
sale-to-list price
44
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
McHenry beats the Illinois average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
B+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
5 better26 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | McHenry | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.2% | 15.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.1% | 7.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.7% | 7.6% |
Northwestern Medicine Mchenry
1.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
72nd
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in eight working residents works right in McHenry
Most working residents leave McHenry for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are Chicago (8%), Crystal Lake (6%) and Woodstock (3%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
13%work in town
Where working residents work
In McHenry13%
Chicago8%
Crystal Lake6%
Woodstock3%
Elgin2%
18 mi
median commute distance
13,346
jobs based in McHenry
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors
3.2% of McHenry is conserved land
7.7 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves.
#264for trails in IL
3.2%
conserved · 313 of 9,839 acres
7.7 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
#394
most walkable in IL
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fox Ridge Park | 0.2 mi | 91 |
| 2. Petersen Park | — | 78 |
| 3. Cold Springs Park | — | 50 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 83% of U.S. towns
McHenry reports less crime per resident than 83% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
A−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
McHenry0.3
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
McHenry5.1
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
83rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
72nd
percentile among IL towns
9
violent crimes reported in 2025
149
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
47
paid flood claims since 1978
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
McHenry has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 35 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–33°
Spring37–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall41–61°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
About McHenry
City in Illinois, United States
McHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It is located about 46 miles northwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,135. McHenry was at one time the county seat of McHenry County, which once included adjoining Lake County to the east. McHenry took its name from the county, which was named for Major William McHenry, a prominent US Army officer in the Black Hawk War. It rests at an elevation of 797 feet and the Fox River flows through the eastern portion of the city. It is surrounded by natural lakes and streams, grassy moraine hills, gravel banks and shallow nutrient-rich peat bogs, remnants of receding glaciers from the last ice age. Moraine Hills Sta…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1872
- Population
- 27,135
- Area
- 15 sq mi
- Elevation
- 810 ft
- ZIP code
- 60050, 60051
- Area code
- 815
McHenry’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with McHenry.
Wonder LakeJohnsburgMcCullom LakeBull ValleyPrairie GroveMcHenry
More about McHenry
Still missing for McHenry:archive photosupcoming events