Riley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It was named a CDP before the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 10.

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How Riley ranks

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#33Highest income in IL #182Most educated in IL #86Best schools in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

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Living in Riley

Work & commute in Riley

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Most working residents leave Riley for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Marengo (9%), Chicago (7%) and Elgin (5%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

Marengo

Chicago

Elgin

Woodstock

3%Work in townlive and work in Riley 24 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 717Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Riley →

Health in Riley

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 67% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

4better than IL·2worse

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

Conditions 2▼ 10 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.6%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIL 15.9% · better 10.6%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityIL 13.2% · better 9%More adults who have had cancerIL 7.6% · worse

Care nearby

Mercy Harvard HospitalHarvard · 16.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Crusader Clinic - BelvidereBelvidere · 9.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 60152, 60135 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Riley →

Natural hazards in Riley

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 25% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

1Does Riley flood?paid flood claims since 2009 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 14 declared for McHenry County MapRiley vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Riley →

Climate in Riley

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Riley has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

32° / 17°Winter

59° / 37°Spring

82° / 60°Summer

61° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Riley get?About 31 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 12, with the last in spring around Apr 28.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Riley →

Schools in Riley

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A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Riley’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 76% of Illinois’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#86Best public schoolsof 384 in IL

DistrictRiley CCSD 18Schools1

Riley Comm Cons School A-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 277 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IL. Ratings are from neighbors.

Libraries near Riley

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Nearest: Marengo-Union Public Library DistrictMarengo · 4.6 miles · 58 hrs a week

Famous people from RileyWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Riley.Meet them →

Where Riley is

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Imported town boundary

Illinois · IL · McHenry CountyTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →

How things work in Riley

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