County · Illinois

McHenry County, Illinois

McHenry County, Illinois. McHenry County had 317,751 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.4% since 2020, while Illinois shrank 0.8%. It holds 60 places (30 cities, villages and boroughs, 17 towns and townships and 13 census-designated) and 64 census tracts. GEOID 17111.

McHenry County is one of the 13 counties of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

317,751

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 310,229 · ACS 2020-2024: 312,591

Median household income

$104,802

±$2,178 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$308,100

±$3,743 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$1,401

±$41 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in McHenry County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 310,229 residents in McHenry County. The Census Bureau estimates 317,751 for July 1, 2025, up 2.4% since 2020, while Illinois shrank 0.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 312,591 over 603 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +1,725 (311,702)
2021→2022 +187 (311,889)
2022→2023 +1,532 (313,421)
2023→2024 +2,309 (315,730)
2024→2025 +2,021 (317,751)

McHenry County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	McHenry County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	312,591	12,694,798	+4,877
Households	117,594±563	5,036,449	+5,141
Average household size	2.64±0.01	2.46	−0.08
Housing units	121,329±69	5,457,452	+2,865

McHenry County's population since 2000

From 260,077 in 2000 to 317,751 in 2025: up 22.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 260,077
2005 (estimate) 294,280
2010 Census 308,760
2015 (estimate) 307,595
2020 Census 310,229
2025 (estimate) 317,751

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in McHenry County?

McHenry County holds 60 places: 30 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 17 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 13 census-designated places. The largest is Algonquin Township with 89,435 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in McHenry County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Algonquin Township	township	87,633	88,108±40	$110,071	$304,400	6.0%	100%
Grafton Township	township	56,446	56,996±44	$130,767	$361,800	4.4%	100%
McHenry Township	township	46,268	46,965±44	$94,531	$261,900	8.4%	100%
Crystal Lake	city	40,269	40,579±208	$108,418	$311,400	6.8%	100%
Nunda Township	township	38,344	38,565±52	$109,574	$321,000	5.1%	100%
Lake in the Hills	village	28,982	28,800±51	$117,151	$321,900	4.1%	100%
McHenry	city	27,135	28,074±41	$86,315	$266,500	4.7%	100%
Woodstock	city	25,630	26,147±365	$82,758	$245,700	6.0%	100%
Huntley	village	27,740	28,005±210	$88,536	$334,300	8.6%	79%
Dorr Township	township	21,572	21,621±39	$87,800	$266,800	7.0%	100%
Algonquin	village	29,700	30,067±51	$134,525	$351,000	4.1%	72%
Cary	village	17,826	17,923±48	$113,026	$309,800	4.8%	100%
Greenwood Township, McHenry County	township	14,184	14,581±46	$98,214	$256,600	4.7%	100%
Harvard	city	9,469	9,598±612	$67,617	$175,400	11.8%	100%
Chemung Township	township	9,095	9,051±39	$67,742	$184,300	13.7%	100%
Marengo	city	7,568	7,040±441	$73,523	$229,900	15.7%	100%
Marengo Township	township	7,202	7,253±25	$74,172	$234,900	13.2%	100%
Richmond Township	township	6,813	6,763±23	$95,789	$378,100	4.9%	100%
Johnsburg	village	6,355	6,386±40	$121,023	$328,300	12.1%	100%
Spring Grove	village	5,487	5,917±415	$134,210	$398,400	1.4%	100%
Burton Township, McHenry County	township	4,820	4,891±38	$125,921	$358,400	3.1%	100%
Island Lake	village	8,051	8,014±53	$103,156	$262,500	6.7%	58%
Lakewood, McHenry County	village	4,283	4,707±390	$173,625	$552,600	3.5%	100%
Fox River Grove	village	4,702	4,523±146	$121,506	$298,900	3.7%	90%
Wonder Lake	village	3,973	4,292±371	$94,655	$252,200	2.9%	100%
Coral Township	township	3,638	3,648±22	$110,888	$392,700	2.8%	100%
Pistakee Highlands	CDP	3,237	3,374±456	$102,986	$216,800	7.5%	100%
Riley TownshipGEOID 1711164096	township	3,035	2,998±15	$164,764	$365,700	6.5%	100%
Seneca Township	township	2,893	2,881±14	$133,558	$408,900	4.6%	100%
Dunham Township	township	2,823	2,777±16	$92,697	$247,400	0.9%	100%
Lakemoor	village	6,182	6,467±711	$100,414	$265,500	4.7%	40%
Hebron Township	township	2,327	2,425±389	$106,250	$280,800	6.2%	100%
Richmond	village	2,089	2,622±358	$73,029	$238,600	5.2%	100%
Oakwood Hills	village	2,076	2,416±477	$109,907	$282,300	2.9%	100%
Prairie Grove	village	1,963	2,165±301	$141,389	$467,600	3.7%	100%
Hartland TownshipGEOID 1711133305	township	1,861	1,566±353	$104,531	$364,000	1.1%	100%
Hebron	village	1,368	1,261±395	$85,375	$208,100	6.6%	100%
Alden Township	township	1,275	1,502±391	$102,710	$295,800	13.9%	100%
Barrington Hills	village	4,114	3,879±719	$205,074	$913,600	8.2%	30%
Bull Valley	village	1,128	1,269±286	$191,250	$477,900	6.1%	100%
Port Barrington	village	1,584	1,477±288	$149,886	$379,600	2.7%	66%
McCullom Lake	village	988	1,017±296	$72,791	$178,600	16.1%	100%
Ringwood	village	844	730±197	$143,750	$386,400	2.3%	100%
Fox Lake	village	10,978	11,131±492	$70,819	$228,100	13.1%	6%
Holiday Hills	village	618	634±145	$74,083	$220,600	10.8%	100%
UnionGEOID 1776706	village	551	624±271	$89,844	$252,200	7.5%	100%
Trout ValleyGEOID 1776160	village	515	574±152	$217,292	$446,200	2.6%	100%
GreenwoodGEOID 1731667	village	324	502±181	$131,250	$415,900	12.5%	100%
ChemungGEOID 1712879	CDP	276	239±257	$68,454	$184,500	0.0%	100%
Burtons BridgeGEOID 1710045	CDP	226	134±101	not published	$244,000	0.0%	100%
LawrenceGEOID 1742392	CDP	220	358±307	$46,862	$423,500	9.2%	100%
RidgefieldGEOID 1763875	CDP	210	221±228	not published	$254,200	0.0%	100%
HartlandGEOID 1733292	CDP	157	105±3	not published	not published	–	100%
Solon MillsGEOID 1770356	CDP	133	38±57	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
AldenGEOID 1700594	CDP	113	48±34	not published	$237,500	0.0%	100%
Big Foot PrairieGEOID 1705859	CDP	65	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
FranklinvilleGEOID 1727728	CDP	38	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
HarmonyGEOID 1733019	CDP	20	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
CoralGEOID 1716301	CDP	16	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
RileyGEOID 1764094	CDP	10	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in McHenry County?

The median resident of McHenry County is 40.7 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 16.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.1%. 9.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	McHenry County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.7±0.3	39.0	+0.5
Under 18 years	22.7%±0.1 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	16.5%±0.1 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	16.1%	18.8%	+3.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	76.1%±0.3 pts	58.1%	−5.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.4%±0.1 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	3.0%±0.1 pts	5.9%	+0.2 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.2%±0.3 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	9.9%±0.5 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	16.1%±0.6 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.6%±0.4 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	10.1%±0.5 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.5%±0.4 pts	6.9%	−0.7 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.7%±0.5 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	35.2%±1.0 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	12.0%±0.6 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.0%±0.2 pts	1.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in McHenry County earn?

Half of McHenry County's 117,594 households earn less than $104,802 a year (±$2,178), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $106,823 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McHenry County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$104,802±$2,178	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$130,520±$2,725	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$49,388±$1,058	$46,406	+$1,384
People below the poverty line	6.2%±0.6 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	8.2%±1.4 pts	15.1%	−2.2 pts
Households receiving SNAP	7.4%±0.7 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	95.4%±0.5 pts	90.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in McHenry County?

Owners occupy 82.7% of McHenry County's occupied homes and renters 17.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,100 by its owner (±$3,743). The median renter pays $1,401 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McHenry County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$308,100±$3,743	$263,300	+$31,809
Median gross rent	$1,401±$41	$1,274	−$72
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	38.1%±3.1 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$2,137±$26	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	82.7%±1.0 pts	67.1%	+3.3 pts
Housing units	121,329±69	5,457,452	+2,865
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.5%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.9%±1.2 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	77.3%±0.9 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	0.7%±0.2 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	8.0%±0.7 pts	20.2%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is McHenry County building?

Builders took permits for 1,393 new housing units across McHenry County in 2025 (919 single-family), 4.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 565 units
2020 585 units
2021 1,374 units
2022 900 units
2023 1,169 units
2024 1,565 units
2025 1,393 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in McHenry County get to work?

72.9% of McHenry County's workers drive alone and 16.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McHenry County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	69.7%±0.6 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	4.7%±0.4 pts	5.8%	+0.6 pts
Drove alone to work	72.9%±1.0 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	7.7%±0.7 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	1.3%±0.2 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	1.1%±0.3 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	16.1%±0.7 pts	15.9%	+9.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	30.1 min±0.4	27.8 min	−3.1 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are McHenry County's census tracts?

McHenry County is divided into 64 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $63,378 (Tract 8713.13) to $183,094 (Tract 8713.05).

All 64 census tracts of McHenry County, with their figures

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does McHenry County compare with Illinois's other counties?

McHenry County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	6th of 102
Growth 2020-2025	4th of 102
Residents per square mile	7th of 102
Median household income	5th of 102
Median home value	7th of 102
Median gross rent	7th of 102
Poverty rate	98th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	13th of 102
Median age	72nd of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for McHenry County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.