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McHenry

A city of 28,074 people in Illinois
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Around town

The places and views that make it McHenry

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Outdoors in McHenry

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Map of McHenry: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk
Conserved land3.2%313 of 9,839 acres
Trails7.7 mi0.5 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves3011 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know McHenry

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About McHenry

City in Illinois, United States
1872Established
27,135Population
15 sq miArea
810 ftElevation

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…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code60050, 60051
Area code815
Living in McHenry

Housing in McHenry

$307K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $307,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s
Days on market46
Sale-to-list100.5%
Sold in May44
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in McHenry

A−

Safety Grade A-

McHenry reports less crime per resident than 83% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000
McHenry 0.3
Illinois 2.6
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
McHenry 5.1
Illinois 15.6
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in McHenry

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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.

Chicago
8%
Crystal Lake
6%
Woodstock
3%
Elgin
2%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in McHenry →

Health in McHenry

B+

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

5better than IL·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Northwestern Medicine MchenryMchenry · 1.4 mi · ER
3901 Mercy DrMchenry · 1.7 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careNo shortage
DentalNo shortage
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for McHenry · CMS · HRSAHealth in McHenry →

Natural hazards in McHenry

72
High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in McHenry →

Climate in McHenry

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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.

33° / 17°Winter
58° / 37°Spring
81° / 60°Summer
61° / 41°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in McHenry →
Famous people from McHenryWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in McHenry.Meet them →

How things work in McHenry

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01