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McHenry, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · McHenry County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
27,774 Population 1,873/sq mi density
$86,865 Median Income $47,096 per capita
$244,900 Home Value $300,846 Zillow
$1,508 Median Rent 30.0% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
148 Violent Crime/100K 848 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$86,865 median income, 2.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$244,900 home value, $1,508/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
148 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.0 / 5.0
25.5% bachelor's degree or higher
McHenry experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.0 inches. The area receives 34.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-6°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average48.6°F
10% below US avg
January Average22°F (-6°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation809 ft (247 m)
Area15.0 sq mi (39.0 km²)
Population Density1,873/sq mi
Coordinates42.3362°N, 88.2917°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyMcHenry County County
Nearest AirportKenosha Regional (ENW)
26 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 37.0"
3% below US avg
Snowfall 34.5"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.13"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.26"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood
Good Days %66.9%
Unhealthy Days1

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0484 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience84.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 110 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 44 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 117 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 71 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 84 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 18 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 43 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 140 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

540 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 109 fatalities, 2,207 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 73 km 29
Apr 9, 2015 EF4 98 km 2
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 72 km 1
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 91 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 78 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 35 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 53 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 21 km 1
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 83 km 33
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 15 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 66 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 45 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 24 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 86 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 88 km 1
Jun 5, 1980 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 79 km 0
Jan 24, 1967 EF3 93 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 27 km 0
Jun 22, 2024 EF2 75 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 136 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: IBSP SOUTH F1 RX (690 ac, 2024).

Year Name Acres Distance
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 40 km
2024 RX-HWY Y - SOUTH 553 79 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 22°F (-6°C) 1.6 in Coldest
February 24°F (-4°C) 1.3 in Driest
March 35°F (2°C) 2.5 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.6 in
May 58°F (14°C) 3.4 in
June 67°F (20°C) 4.0 in
July 73°F (23°C) 4.1 in Warmest, Wettest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.1 in
September 62°F (17°C) 3.9 in
October 51°F (10°C) 2.5 in
November 38°F (3°C) 2.7 in
December 25°F (-4°C) 2.1 in

McHenry has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 22°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 35.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.3").

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