Real Estate Investing in McHenry County, Illinois

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

18 ZIP codes • Population: 311,376

Should you buy in McHenry County, IL? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice β€” values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in McHenry County, IL?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

7.2% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $381,388
Avg Monthly Rent $1,760
ZIP Codes 18

Investing in McHenry County Real Estate

McHenry County spans 18 ZIP codes across 17 cities in Illinois, with a population of 311,376. The county's muted investment metrics reflect deeper structural challenges β€” worth studying before making commitments.

A 3.0 rating and a 0.0% 5-year CAGR are the kinds of numbers that warrant real local underwriting. McHenry County sits firmly in that category.

Distressed-leaning demographics in McHenry β€” soft income growth, high rent burden, population shifts β€” are among the reasons the β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† rating sits where it does.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in McHenry County, IL. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$381,388
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,760
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (IL)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in McHenry County

3 Colleges 9,702 Students 3,801 Off-Campus Renters
C
McHenry County College
2-Year Public Β· 9,051 students
πŸ“ ~3,801 students rent off-campus
C
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
Vocational For-Profit Β· 377 students
D
First Institute of Travel, Inc.
Vocational For-Profit Β· 274 students

Investor Insight: With 3,801 students living off-campus, McHenry County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in McHenry County

ZIP Codes in McHenry County, IL

60014 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Crystal Lake
Population 48,383
Avg Home $374,501
Avg Rent $2,039/mo
60098 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Woodstock
Population 33,307
Avg Home $345,844
Avg Rent $1,415/mo
60102 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Algonquin
Population 32,303
Avg Home $422,995
Avg Rent $2,318/mo
60050 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
McHenry
Population 31,870
Avg Home $319,434
Avg Rent $1,919/mo
60142 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Huntley
Population 29,452
Avg Home $430,109
Avg Rent $2,650/mo
60156 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Lake in the Hills
Population 28,853
Avg Home $383,133
Avg Rent $2,183/mo
60013 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cary
Population 26,503
Avg Home $386,975
Avg Rent $2,624/mo
60033 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Harvard
Population 13,333
Avg Home $279,171
Avg Rent $1,335/mo
60152 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Marengo
Population 12,006
Avg Home $363,530
Avg Rent $1,188/mo
60012 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Crystal Lake
Population 11,929
Avg Home $495,699
Avg Rent $1,800/mo
60097 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Wonder Lake
Population 11,481
Avg Home $295,869
Avg Rent $1,476/mo
60081 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Spring Grove
Population 9,117
Avg Home $425,243
Avg Rent $1,359/mo
60042 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Island Lake
Population 8,630
Avg Home $309,266
Avg Rent $1,873/mo
60021 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Fox River Grove
Population 5,108
Avg Home $366,737
Avg Rent $2,100/mo
60071 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Richmond
Population 3,946
Avg Home $396,243
Avg Rent $1,332/mo
60034 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Hebron
Population 2,175
Avg Home $327,708
Avg Rent $1,260/mo
60180 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Union
Population 2,092
Avg Home $434,939
Avg Rent $1,440/mo
60072 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Ringwood
Population 888
Avg Home $507,590
Avg Rent $1,368/mo

Screen every market in McHenry County

Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

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Frequently Asked Questions About McHenry County

What are rental rates like in, IL?

Rent in, IL is around $1,760/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $381K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How deep is the rental pool in, IL?

, IL offers a predictable renter base at the $1,760/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the best play in, IL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy, IL best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $381K price point.

Are home values higher in, IL than the rest of IL?

Versus statewide IL, is broadly in line with. Its 3.0/5 investability score reflects that position.

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