1st Advantage MortgageIn McHenry County, Illinois, the typical household earns $104,802 a year and the typical rent is $1,401. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- McHenry County at a glance
- Household income in McHenry County
- Work, industries and travel time in McHenry County
- McHenry County housing compared with Illinois
- Places inside McHenry County
- McHenry County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in McHenry County
- McHenry County households compared
- Reading the McHenry County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for McHenry County
- Checklist for McHenry County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
McHenry County at a glance
With an estimated 312,591 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), McHenry County ranks 6th of 102 in Illinois for population. It covers 603 square miles of land, or about 518 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 42 places in the county (29 incorporated, 13 census-designated); the largest is Crystal Lake, with about 40,579 residents, or 13% of the county.
Household income in McHenry County
At $104,802, the typical McHenry County household income is 60% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | McHenry County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.8% | -8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.5% | -2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.3% | +7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.4% | +3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 53% of McHenry County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. 6.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). For a borrower in McHenry County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in McHenry County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 15% locally and 11% for Illinois. The survey's unemployment rate for McHenry County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | McHenry County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.3% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in McHenry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
McHenry County housing compared with Illinois
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,401 in McHenry County versus $1,274 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,100, about 2.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 83% of homes.
| Measure | McHenry County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,401/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $308,100 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 3% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like McHenry County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside McHenry County
42 Census places fall mainly inside McHenry County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 287,478 residents, leaving about 8% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Trout Valley has the highest median household income on the list ($217,292) and Harvard the lowest ($67,617), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,025 in Ringwood to $3,501 in Bull Valley. This guide covers each of the 42 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | city | 40,579 | $108,418 | $1,468 | 9 mi |
| Algonquin | village | 30,067 | $134,525 | $1,723 | 13 mi |
| Lake in the Hills | village | 28,800 | $117,151 | $1,689 | 12 mi |
| McHenry | city | 28,074 | $86,315 | $1,553 | 8 mi |
| Huntley | village | 28,005 | $88,536 | $1,622 | 11 mi |
| Woodstock | city | 26,147 | $82,758 | $1,212 | 1 mi |
| Cary | village | 17,923 | $113,026 | $1,428 | 13 mi |
| Fox Lake | village | 11,131 | $70,819 | $1,047 | 15 mi |
| Harvard | city | 9,598 | $67,617 | $1,183 | 11 mi |
| Island Lake | village | 8,014 | $103,156 | $1,874 | 13 mi |
| Marengo | city | 7,040 | $73,523 | $1,176 | 9 mi |
| Lakemoor | village | 6,467 | $100,414 | $1,726 | 13 mi |
| Johnsburg | village | 6,386 | $121,023 | $1,128 | 11 mi |
| Spring Grove | village | 5,917 | $134,210 | n/a | 14 mi |
McHenry County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Boone County at 19 miles out to Lake County at 34. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than McHenry County; Lake County is highest at $110,416 and DeKalb County lowest at $70,724. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County | - | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
| Boone County, IL | 19 mi | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
| Walworth County, WI | 24 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Kane County, IL | 27 mi | $103,163 | $1,453/mo | 76% |
| DeKalb County, IL | 34 mi | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
| Kenosha County, WI | 34 mi | $81,239 | $1,219/mo | 67% |
| Lake County, IL | 34 mi | $110,416 | $1,477/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in McHenry County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to McHenry County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,734 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,401, which is 16% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,743 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $3,755 total minus rent leaves $2,354
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of McHenry County's.
McHenry County households compared
35% of McHenry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Residents | McHenry County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.2% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.8% |
| 60+ min | 12.9% |
Reading the McHenry County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for McHenry County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 26% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 53% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for McHenry County
Consumer lenders serving McHenry County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Illinois that is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for McHenry County applicants
Steps that save money for McHenry County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in McHenry County earn?
The median is $104,802; 53% earn $100,000 or more and 13% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does McHenry County rent compare with Illinois?
$1,401 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 10% above.
Which towns does the McHenry County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 42 Census places: Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, McHenry, Huntley.
Are McHenry County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in McHenry County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.