McHenry County, Illinois Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for McHenry County, Illinois, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in McHenry County, Illinois. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in McHenry County, Illinois. The estimated population of McHenry County, Illinois is 310,749 people, with a median age of 40.4.

We can look at the total population in McHenry County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
310,749
+1.13%
+0.88%
2020
307,291
 -0.14% -
2019
307,714
 -0.02% -
2018
307,789
 -0.08% -
2017
308,043
 - -

Population of McHenry County, Illinois by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
79.5%
81.9%
 -2.93%
Black/African American
1.5%
1.2%
 +25.00%
Native
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Hispanic
13.8%
12.5%
 +10.40%
Asian
2.7%
2.7%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.3%
1.5%
 +53.33%
Other
0.2%
0.1%
 +100.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of McHenry County, Illinois by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 40.4 +0.5% 39.8 +1.02% 41.3 +0.24%
2020 40.2 0% 39.4 +0.51% 41.2 +0.24%
2019 40.2 0% 39.2 +0.51% 41.1 +0.24%
2018 40.2 +0.75% 39 +0.26% 41 +0.74%
2017 39.9 - 38.9 - 40.7 -

The median age of McHenry County, Illinois gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 19,362 -6.51% 18,539 -1.48% 18,120 18,264
10 to 19 23,638 -2.1% 21,977 -4.39% 23,141 21,009
20 to 29 17,929 +0.76% 16,748 +2.83% 18,063 17,227
30 to 39 17,838 +5.77% 18,338 +3% 18,888 18,876
40 to 49 22,942 -7.9% 23,079 -12.04% 21,163 20,401
50 to 59 24,354 +2.65% 24,525 -2.21% 25,003 23,985
60 to 69 16,388 +11.13% 17,427 +11.82% 18,282 19,578
70+ 11,052 +14.6% 13,907 +14.3% 12,750 15,999

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of McHenry County, Illinois is $93,801.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for McHenry County.

  • Under 25
    $52,628.00
  • 25 to 44
    $99,131.00
  • 45 to 64
    $114,993.00
  • 65 and over
    $60,186.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in McHenry County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in McHenry County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of McHenry County, Illinois is currently $115,692.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

12.46% of households in McHenry County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of McHenry County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    9.19%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    14.49%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.51%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.03%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    22.10%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    12.24%
  • $200,000 or more
    12.46%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in McHenry County is $43,047.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of McHenry County by the total population of McHenry County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in McHenry County, Illinois, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in McHenry County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    14.33%
  • Bachelor's degree
    35.86%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.84%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    35.48%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.49%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in McHenry County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of McHenry County over the age of 16 is 247,186.

Of those people, a total of 70.40% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in McHenry County is 66.80%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 16,971 49.10% 13.90%
20 to 24 years 18,035 84.50% 9.00%
25 to 29 years 17,255 90.70% 5.10%
30 to 34 years 17,842 87.10% 4.50%
35 to 44 years 39,793 88.10% 2.80%
45 to 54 years 45,542 88.40% 3.90%
55 to 59 years 25,139 82.60% 4.10%
60 to 64 years 20,572 66.90% 6.20%
65 to 74 years 28,732 29.20% 5.80%
75 years and over 17,305 6.40% 5.20%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in McHenry County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 221,946 70.00% 5.00%
Black or African American 3,591 70.10% 9.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 390 62.30% 3.30%
Asian 7,121 69.80% 4.90%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5 0.00% 0.00%
Other 4,349 71.70% 4.10%
Two or more races 9,784 81.00% 5.90%
Hispanic or Latino 29,320 78.70% 5.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 203,144 69.20% 4.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in McHenry County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in McHenry County is 165,199, with median earnings of $49,226.00.

Women in McHenry County, Illinois earning approximately 62.50% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 165,199 $49,226.00
Male 88,562 $61,323.00
Female 76,637 $38,334.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 20,529 $89,781.00
Business and Financial 9,904 $69,096.00
Computer and Mathematical 4,189 $103,042.00
Architecture and Engineering 3,322 $91,083.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,322 $55,957.00
Community and Social Service 2,128 $44,555.00
Legal 1,291 $59,127.00
Educational and Library 11,011 $49,359.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 3,024 $42,442.00
Healthcare Practitioners 8,789 $63,892.00
Healthcare Support 4,205 $25,263.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 2,066 $69,623.00
Law Enforcement 1,314 $101,011.00
Food Preparation and Serving 7,051 $12,344.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 4,229 $26,728.00
Personal Care and Service 5,006 $15,575.00
Sales 19,640 $47,725.00
Office and Administrative Support 18,869 $40,822.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 459 $32,269.00
Construction and Extraction 8,314 $54,073.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 6,196 $60,481.00
Production 11,022 $41,745.00
Transportation and Material Moving 5,815 $43,951.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 12,625 $101,605.00 7,904 $71,339.00
Business and Financial 4,365 $86,940.00 5,539 $62,458.00
Computer and Mathematical 3,270 $106,087.00 919 $81,509.00
Architecture and Engineering 2,868 $95,240.00 454 $64,267.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 613 $75,208.00 709 $43,594.00
Community and Social Service 481 $46,198.00 1,647 $44,462.00
Legal 522 $126,406.00 769 $43,594.00
Educational and Library 2,348 $69,900.00 8,663 $44,310.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1,555 $48,558.00 1,469 $36,025.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,799 $100,354.00 6,990 $60,221.00
Healthcare Support 395 $26,172.00 3,810 $25,168.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 1,834 $75,365.00 232 $5,781.00
Law Enforcement 1,248 $101,144.00 66 $99,306.00
Food Preparation and Serving 3,025 $15,246.00 4,026 $10,485.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 3,064 $32,789.00 1,165 $19,127.00
Personal Care and Service 1,189 $15,725.00 3,817 $15,464.00
Sales 11,449 $66,332.00 8,191 $26,426.00
Office and Administrative Support 4,569 $50,711.00 14,300 $39,008.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 384 $36,683.00 75 $10,481.00
Construction and Extraction 8,108 $54,563.00 206 $23,971.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 6,056 $60,497.00 140 $57,188.00
Production 8,205 $49,253.00 2,817 $29,741.00
Transportation and Material Moving 4,851 $50,839.00 964 $23,857.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 114,446 households in McHenry County, with an average household size of 2.7 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 85,663 families in McHenry County with an average family size of 3.12 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 68,830 5,423 11,410 28,783
Average Household Size 3.23 3.17 3.05 1.21
Total Families 68,830 5,423 11,410 0
Average Household Size 3.2 2.76 2.79 0

Poverty

Of the 85,663 families in McHenry County, 4.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in McHenry County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 119,465 housing units in McHenry County, Illinois.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 114,446 95.80%
Vacant 5,019 4.20%

17.00% of the total 119,465 housing units in McHenry County are rental units. This is approximately 20,310 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 93,244 are occupied by the owner - or 78.05% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in McHenry County is $1,253.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in McHenry County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    892
  • Less than $500
    1,055
  • $500 to $999
    4,583
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    7,693
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    5,158
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    1,268
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    166
  • $3,000 or more
    387

Property Value

The median value of a property in McHenry County is $241,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in McHenry County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,926
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    3,249
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    9,312
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    18,122
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    33,097
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    23,636
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    3,407
  • $1,000,000 or more
    495

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in McHenry County. The chart below shows the number of properties in McHenry County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    9,378
  • 1940 to 1949
    2,862
  • 1950 to 1959
    9,891
  • 1960 to 1969
    8,476
  • 1970 to 1979
    15,981
  • 1980 to 1989
    14,918
  • 1990 to 1999
    28,243
  • 2000 to 2009
    25,576
  • 2010 to 2013
    4,062
  • 2014 or later
    78

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in McHenry County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    4,292
  • 1 vehicle available
    27,962
  • 2 vehicles available
    51,082
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    31,110

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in McHenry County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in McHenry County that commute to work in a particular way.

31.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in McHenry County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    3,063
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    14,919
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    16,273
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    17,432
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    15,674
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    9,254
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    15,314
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    5,456
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    6,901
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    18,889
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    15,879
  • 90 or more minutes
    5,475

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for McHenry County, Illinois in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in McHenry County, Illinois

We have data for 36 places in McHenry County, Illinois. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.