The Town FilesBull Valley, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 1,128 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $477,900
- Household income
- $191,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 54.5
Bull Valley is a village of 1,128 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $477,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 87% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 87% of Illinois towns.
How Bull Valley ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bull Valley is worth $477,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $191,250, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 96.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bull Valley | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $477,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $960 |
| Median household income | $191,250 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Bull Valley
| People | Bull Valley | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Bull Valley
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bull Valley since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 116 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 27, 2024.
Severe weather in McHenry County since 1996
McHenry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 13, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3283: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in McHenry County
McHenry County had 96,922 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,107 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Bull Valley itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Bull Valley
- Wonder Lake, IL3.6 mi · 3,973 people · home $252,200
- McHenry, IL3.6 mi · 27,135 people · home $266,500
- Woodstock, IL3.9 mi · 25,630 people · home $245,700
- McCullom Lake, IL4.5 mi · 988 people · home $178,600
- Prairie Grove, IL5.8 mi · 1,963 people · home $467,600
- Ringwood, IL5.9 mi · 844 people · home $386,400
- Crystal Lake, IL6.4 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- Lakewood, IL7.0 mi · 4,283 people · home $552,600
Bull Valley questions
Is Bull Valley, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bull Valley scores better for retirees than 65% of Illinois towns and quieter than 54%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in Bull Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Bull Valley is valued at $477,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $191,250, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Bull Valley?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.1 inches of snow.
Does Bull Valley get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bull Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)