State rank#6 of 102
Smallest county312,591 residentsCook County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 17111
McHenry County, Illinois
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population312,591
Household income$104,802
Unemployment4.5%
Life expectancy79.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
McHenry County has 312,591 residents and ranks #6 by population among Illinois county equivalents. Median household income is $104,802. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Illinois
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to McHenry County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside McHenry County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $308,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $104,802, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
McHenry County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, life expectancy, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 35.2% and life expectancy is 79.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $104,802, rank #5 of 102 available Illinois counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.5 years, rank #8 of 102 available Illinois counties.
- Poor or fair health: 15%, rank #11 of 102 available Illinois counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $308,100, rank #96 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,401/mo, rank #96 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,222 residents, rank #45 of 94; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Illinois
Rank and range use only counties in Illinois with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$104,802
$104,802; above the state county median of $66,532.
State rank #5 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$308,100
$308,100; above the state county median of $134,650.
State rank #96 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,401/mo
$1,401/mo; above the state county median of $811/mo.
State rank #96 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.5%
4.5%; below the state county median of 4.6%.
State rank #41 of 102 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.2%
35.2%; above the state county median of 20.9%.
State rank #13 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.5 years
79.5 years; above the state county median of 75.9 years.
State rank #8 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15%
15%; below the state county median of 18%.
State rank #11 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.9%
5.9%; below the state county median of 6%.
State rank #42 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,222 residents
1 per 2,222 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,412 residents.
State rank #45 of 94 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 360 residents
1 per 360 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 528 residents.
State rank #32 of 97 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
McHenry County FAQ
Is McHenry County a good place to live?
McHenry County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, life expectancy, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 35.2% and life expectancy is 79.5 years.
What should I know before moving to McHenry County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $308,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $104,802, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of McHenry County?
McHenry County has 312,591 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for McHenry County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 17111; the parent state FIPS is 17.
What is the median household income in McHenry County?
The ACS median household income is $104,802.
How much does housing cost in McHenry County?
Housing benchmarks are $308,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $104,802, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in McHenry County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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