States › Illinois › McHenry

Is McHenry, IL expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7013% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$93,091about $7,758/month · 7% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$266,50020% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 52% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $68,040 a year. That is $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Illinois. It is number 208 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

McHenry
$1,701
New Lenox
$1,583
Huntley
$2,560
Lansing
$1,280
Glen Ellyn
$1,792
Danville
$892
Wilmette
$3,785

How much do households earn in McHenry?

Under $25k
9.6%
$25k–50k
22.5%
$50k–100k
36.3%
$100k–150k
19.0%
$150k+
11.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 30.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in McHenry

SizeMcHenryU.S. average
Studio$1,219$1,338
1 bedroom$1,111$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,841$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,150$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,514$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is McHenry overall?

Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
94
Goods (food, clothes…)
104
Utilities
85
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for McHenry, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in McHenry

🏛️ Property tax$6,456a year · 2.42% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$111a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in McHenry

Commute to work29 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree25.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home74.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in McHenry?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $148 a month less.

Renting
$1,701
Owning
$1,849

Owning assumes a typical $266,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $26,650 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in McHenry, IL?

Renting in McHenry costs a median of about $1,701 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in McHenry?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $68,040 a year, or $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is McHenry cheap or expensive?

McHenry is rated OK: rent takes 21.9% of the typical household income of $93,091. It ranks 208th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in McHenry?

The median homeowner in McHenry pays $6,456 a year in property taxes, about 2.42% of the median home value.

Is McHenry more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in McHenry?

The median home value in McHenry is $266,500, about 2.9 times the typical yearly household income.

28,074 people live in McHenry. Numbers are typical (middle) values.