COUNTY REPORT IL

McHenry County, Illinois

21 ZIP codes · Avg score 68/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Monitoring figures for McHenry County indicate average water quality overall — some ZIP codes among the 21 tracked have recorded health-based violations, while others operate cleanly, making individual ZIP-level data the most actionable reference point.

How McHenry County Compares

McHenry County68/100
Illinois avg61/100
National avg68/100

How McHenry County Compares

C
County Grade
68/100
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
31
Water Systems

McHenry County scores 7 points above the Illinois state average (61/100) and 0 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
68
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 60097 (82/100)
Lowest ZIP: 60081 (50/100)
$290K
Median Home Value
$1,932
Avg Remediation (67% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: McHenry County, Illinois

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 11.7 (asthma 9.6%, diabetes 10.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,795, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.343% avg pipe failure probability, 20% of ZIPs at high risk

48.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across McHenry County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
3 (3 health)
2024
10 (10 health)
2025
7 (7 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 10 violations. Past 5 years: 20 total (20 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.6% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 32.1% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1986
Median Build Year
48.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
34%
Pipe Failure Probability
20%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,795

Flood $1,171/yr
Energy Code Gap $313/yr
Sea Level Rise $171/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

131,039 housing units in McHenry County

Pre-1940 8%
1940–1959 10%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 36%
2000+ 27%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in McHenry County

$290K
Median Home Value
$1,932
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in McHenry County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for McHenry County residents

Asthma 9.6% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 32.1% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in McHenry County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Mchenry 22,335 30
2 Woodstock 25,630 19
3 Prairie Path Water Company-killarney 1,232 19
4 Wonder Lake (niu) 1,950 19
5 CRYSTAL LAKE 40,661 18

31 total water systems serve McHenry County.

All ZIP Codes in McHenry County

21 ZIP codes tracked in McHenry County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 60097 Wonder Lake 82 B 9 (1 health) $216K
2 60142 Huntley 79 B 1 (1 health) $324K
3 60033 Harvard 78 B 0 $199K
4 60152 Marengo 78 B 0 $259K
5 60098 Woodstock 77 B 3 (1 health) $258K
6 60156 Lake In The Hills 76 B 1 $296K
7 60042 Island Lake 75 B 0 $244K
8 60102 Algonquin 73 B 0 $321K
9 60180 Union 72 B 2 $290K
10 60013 Cary 71 B 1 $291K
11 60034 Hebron 70 B 2 $254K
12 60021 Fox River Grove 69 C 4 $286K
13 60050 Mchenry 66 C 7 (1 health) $245K
14 60072 Ringwood 63 C 0 $390K
15 60051 Mchenry 61 C 7 (1 health) $268K
16 60012 Crystal Lake 58 C 2 $397K
17 60039 Crystal Lake 58 C 2
18 60071 Richmond 58 C 0 $290K
19 60014 Crystal Lake 54 D 2 $296K
20 60001 Alden 53 D 0
21 60081 Spring Grove 50 D 0 $333K

Recommended Buyer Guides for McHenry County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

McHenry County in Illinois covers 21 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (68/100).

13 of 21 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Illinois water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in McHenry County?
McHenry County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve McHenry County?
McHenry County is served by 31 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 21 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in McHenry County?
The primary environmental risk factor in McHenry County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,795 per homeowner.
How old are homes in McHenry County?
The median home build year in McHenry County is 1986. 48.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does McHenry County compare to Illinois?
McHenry County has an average water safety score of 68/100, which is above the Illinois state average of 61/100.

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