McHenry, IL

Census place 1745694 · pop 28,074

D57/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Poverty4.7% · top 12%
🚽 Prop tax2.42% · bottom 4%
Taxes
2.42% property · US 0.99%8.96% sales · US 7.00%4.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.42%4

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.42% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time29 min21

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher25.7%39

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

25.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Rent$1,777/mo48

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$1,777/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Air quality (AQI)County-level43 AQI51

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$266,50053

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$266,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level86/10055

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

86/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult smoking12.6%57

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults8.5%61

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Population growth (5yr)+4.7%62

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+4.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity32.7%63

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

32.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$86,31563

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$86,315 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poor mental health16.2%63

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

16.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Physical inactivity22.2%66

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

22.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Violent crime rate95/100k73

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

95 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership74.4%76

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

74.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property crime rate623/100k78

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

623 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Income inequality0.3982

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.39 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Broadband access96.2%88

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

96.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poverty rate4.7%88

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

4.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Frequently asked

Is McHenry, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, McHenry scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is poverty rate and its weakest is property-tax burden. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is McHenry, IL?
McHenry reports 95 violent crimes per 100k and 623 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is McHenry, IL expensive to live in?
McHenry has a median home value of $266,500 and typical rent around $1,777/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in McHenry, IL?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.42%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is McHenry, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is poverty rate (4.7%) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.