Cost to Own
United StatesIllinoisMcHenry CountyMcHenry Population 27,774 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in McHenry, Illinois

A $245,000 home here costs

$2,383

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,260. The real number is $1,124 higher every month — 89% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

McHenry median: $244,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $196,000 borrowed $1,260
Property tax2.650% effective rate for McHenry itself $541
Homeowners insuranceIllinois averages $1,223/yr (NAIC), or 0.47% of home value $96
Electricity23.85¢/kWh — Illinois residential average, EIA $214
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $204
Total monthly $2,383

McHenry against McHenry County and Illinois

MeasureMcHenryMcHenry County
Median home value$244,900$286,900
Median property tax$6,490$7,153
Effective tax rate2.650%2.493%
Median gross rent$1,508$1,358
Population27,774311,366

The weather behind that power bill

McHenry sits in McHenry County, which averages a high of 84.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.2°F in its coldest, with 39.35" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 771 cooling and 6,520 heating degree days, which is what sets the $214 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for McHenry County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in McHenry County

Full McHenry County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in McHenry?

A $245,000 home in McHenry, Illinois costs approximately $2,383 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,260 principal and interest, $541 property tax, $96 homeowners insurance, $282 utilities and $204 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in McHenry?

McHenry has an effective property tax rate of 2.650%, based on a median home value of $244,900 and median real estate taxes of $6,490. That is higher than the McHenry County average of 2.493%.

What is the average home price in McHenry?

The median owner-occupied home value in McHenry, Illinois is $244,900, against $286,900 across McHenry County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in McHenry?

Median gross rent in McHenry is $1,508 a month, against $2,383 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for McHenry — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Illinois.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology