Cost of Living in McHenry County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How McHenry County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McHenry County ranks #2,911 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
McHenry County Median Home Value Reaches $308,100
The median home value in McHenry County was estimated at $308,100, which is $155,080 above the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,736, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $960. For renters, the median gross rent was $1,401 per month, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $867. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county is 30.2%, which is 4.1 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.1%. The median income for renter households in McHenry County was $56,791. These statistics are based on ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: McHenry County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.2% of renter household income in McHenry County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,401 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,736. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $56,040 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. McHenry County's $1,401 median is 61.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McHenry County
Rent Burden
16.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,445
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
The median home in McHenry County may be a stretch
Median home value is $308,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,460 vs. your max of $2,445.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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