McHenry County, IL

County

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2024 Population

312,591

US Senator

Dick Durbin

Democratic Party

US Senator

Tammy Duckworth

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

40.7

0.743% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

6.23%

2.57% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$104,802

1.91% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$308,100

7.39% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

166,438

0.324% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in McHenry County, IL reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

95.4% of the residents in McHenry County, IL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in McHenry County, IL are McHenry County College (1,785 degrees awarded in 2023), Cosmetology & Spa Academy (261 degrees), and First Institute of Travel, Inc. (145 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in McHenry County, IL was $308,100, and the homeownership rate was 82.7%.

Most people in McHenry County, IL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 30.1 minutes. The average car ownership in McHenry County, IL was 2 cars per household.

McHenry County, IL borders Boone County, IL, Cook County, IL, DeKalb County, IL, Kane County, IL, Lake County, IL, Kenosha County, WI, and Walworth County, WI.

About the photo: Bed & Breakfast from the movie "Groundhog Day" (1993), Woodstock, IL

Photo by Silly America

United States Illinois Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Population & Diversity

McHenry County, IL is home to a population of 313k people, from which 95.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 9.9% of McHenry County, IL residents were born outside of the country (30.9k people).

In 2024, there were 11.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (238k people) in McHenry County, IL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 21.2k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 13.6k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

95.4%

2024 Citizenship

95.8%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 95.4% of McHenry County, IL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in McHenry County, IL was 95.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in McHenry County, IL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in McHenry County, IL

White (Non-Hispanic)
238k ± 916
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
21.2k ± 1.94k
Other (Hispanic)
13.6k ± 1.32k

16.1%

Hispanic Population

50.2k people

16.1% of the people in McHenry County, IL are hispanic (50.2k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in McHenry County, IL as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Illinois.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
633,244 ± 19,044 people
India
161,770 ± 9,812 people
Poland
119,556 ± 8,449 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Illinois was Mexico, the natal country of 633,244 Illinois residents, followed by India with 161,770 and Poland with 119,556.

Foreign-Born Population

9.9%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

30.9k people

9.21%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

28.7k people

As of 2024, 9.9% of McHenry County, IL residents (30.9k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in McHenry County, IL was 9.21%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in McHenry County, IL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
4,804 ± 438
Gulf War (2001-)
3,268 ± 493
Gulf War (1990s)
2,073 ± 445

McHenry County, IL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.47 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in McHenry County, IL.

Economy

The economy of McHenry County, IL employs 166k people. In 2024, the largest industries in McHenry County, IL were Manufacturing (25,605 people), Retail Trade (20,177 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (18,960 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($126,364), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($97,679), and Utilities ($94,058).

Employment

Occupations

166k

2024 Value

± 3,236

0.324%

1 Year growth

± 2.75%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in McHenry County, IL grew at a rate of 0.324%, from 166k employees to 166k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in McHenry County, IL, are Management Occupations (21,369 people), Sales & Related Occupations (18,133 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (17,203 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of McHenry County, IL.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Illinois.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Illinois (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

166k

2024 Value

± 3,236

0.324%

1 Year growth

± 2.75%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in McHenry County, IL grew at a rate of 0.324%, from 166k employees to 166k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in McHenry County, IL, are Manufacturing (25,605 people), Retail Trade (20,177 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (18,960 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of McHenry County, IL, though some of these residents may live in McHenry County, IL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$67,796

Median earning men ± $2,626

$44,936

Median earning women ± $1,245

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($103,349), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($101,062), and Information ($100,720).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($67,366), Manufacturing ($56,588), and Construction ($56,440).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Illinois.

Y-Axis

2.47%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 6.03M people employed in Illinois. This represents a 2.47% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Illinois.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

837
Construction
654
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
539
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$895k
Manufacturing
$708k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$579k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Illinois went to Kamala Harris with 54.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (43.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.43%).

Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are the senators currently representing the state of Illinois. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Illinois is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for McHenry County, IL. Showing the available data for Illinois.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (54.4%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (43.5%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (1.43%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Illinois went to Kamala Harris with 54.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (43.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.43%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Illinois for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Illinois

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Illinois.

Dick Durbin

Senator from Illinois

Assumed office on January 3, 1997

Tammy Duckworth

Senator from Illinois

Assumed office on January 3, 2017

Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are the senators currently representing Illinois.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Illinois over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in McHenry County, IL awarded 2,191 degrees. The student population of McHenry County, IL in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 4,080 male students and 5,622 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in McHenry County, IL are White (1,308 and 59.7%), Hispanic or Latino (595 and 27.2%), Unknown (97 and 4.43%), and Two or More Races (81 and 3.7%).

The largest universities in McHenry County, IL by number of degrees awarded are McHenry County College (1,785 and 81.5%), Cosmetology & Spa Academy (261 and 11.9%), and First Institute of Travel, Inc. (145 and 6.62%).

The most popular majors in McHenry County, IL are Liberal Arts & Sciences (875 and 39.9%), Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (213 and 9.72%), and Biological & Physical Sciences (137 and 6.25%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 9,702 students enrolled in McHenry County, IL, 42.1% men and 57.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 5,779 records, of which 56.5% were women and 43.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Biological & Physical Sciences
137 degrees awarded
General Studies
33 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
414 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in McHenry County, IL was Biological & Physical Sciences with 137 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in McHenry County, IL according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

McHenry County College
1,785 degrees awarded
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
261 degrees awarded
First Institute of Travel, Inc.
145 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was McHenry County College with 1,785 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 754 men were awarded degrees from institutions in McHenry County, IL, which is 0.525 times less than the 1,437 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,308 degrees mean that there were 2.2 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 595 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($10,012) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($517) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,400) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in McHenry County, IL was $308,100 in 2024, which is 0.926 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $286,900 to $308,100, a 7.39% increase. The homeownership rate in McHenry County, IL is 82.7%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in McHenry County, IL have an average commute time of 30.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in McHenry County, IL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in McHenry County, IL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.79%.

Housing

Property

$308,100

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,743

$97,259

Median Property Taxes

±$1,943

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In McHenry County, IL the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in McHenry County, IL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

82.7%

Homeownership

2024

62.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 82.7% of the housing units in McHenry County, IL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 82.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in McHenry County, IL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$104,802

Median Household Income

± $2,178

118k

Number of Households

± 2,708

In 2024, the median household income of the 118k households in McHenry County, IL grew to $104,802 from the previous year's value of $102,836.

The following chart displays the households in McHenry County, IL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for McHenry County, IL is from Illinois.

0.474

2023 Wage GINI in Illinois

0.477

2022 Wage GINI in Illinois

In 2023, the income inequality in Illinois was 0.474 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.554% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Illinois was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Illinois in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Illinois across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (72.9%)
Worked At Home (16.1%)
Carpooled (7.74%)

In 2024, 72.9% of workers in McHenry County, IL drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (16.1%) and those who carpooled to work (7.74%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

30.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in McHenry County, IL have a longer commute time (30.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.92% of the workforce in McHenry County, IL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in McHenry County, IL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in McHenry County, IL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in McHenry County, IL have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in McHenry County, IL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.79%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

6.23% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in McHenry County, IL (19.3k out of 311k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Males 55 - 64 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in McHenry County, IL is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 7.6% of the children was living in poverty in McHenry County, IL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.3%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 95.7 in McHenry County, IL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 23.2 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.5% of the population of McHenry County, IL has health coverage, with 60.7% on employee plans, 10.4% on Medicaid, 13% on Medicare, 10.5% on non-group plans, and 0.88% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in McHenry County, IL see 2,222 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,222 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1450 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 360 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.1% were men and 49.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,222 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in McHenry County, IL

Primary care physicians in McHenry County, IL see an average of 2,222 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,222 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in McHenry County, IL in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.2% under 18 years, 18.4% between 18 and 34 years, 41.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.1% were men and 49.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.53%

Uninsured

60.7%

Employer Coverage

10.4%

Medicaid

13%

Medicare

10.5%

Non-Group

0.88%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in McHenry County, IL declined by 3.16% from 4.68% to 4.53%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in McHenry County, IL changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 35.3 in McHenry County, IL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in McHenry County, IL.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 34.2% in McHenry County, IL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in McHenry County, IL.