Living in McHenry, IL
Suburb in Illinois
McHenry is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 28,000 people, with 2.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is McHenry a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 13 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Mild summers: highs around 82°F
- Easy flying: ORD is 32 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer graduates: 26% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 2.65% property tax
- Cloudier than most places
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how McHenry ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in McHenry: common questions
What is the cost of living in McHenry?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $322k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in McHenry?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.65% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is McHenry safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).
How are the schools in McHenry?
Public schools in McHenry test close to the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 14 students per teacher.
What is the weather like in McHenry?
McHenry has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 35″ of snow a year.
Does McHenry get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.99 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to McHenry?
The nearest major airport is ORD, about 32 mi away.
How McHenry scores
Each bar compares McHenry with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
Places like McHenry
These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.
The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).
Nearby
See all the best places to live in Illinois.
Is McHenry right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.