The Town FilesIsland Lake, Illinois
Village in McHenry County · population 8,051 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $262,500
- Household income
- $103,156
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.1
Island Lake is a village of 8,051 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $262,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 75% of Illinois towns, better for families than 73% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Island Lake 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 Island Lake is worth $262,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $103,156, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,874 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Island Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,874 | $960 |
| Median household income | $103,156 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Island Lake
| People | Island Lake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Island Lake
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Island Lake 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 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 176 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 12, 2014.
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 Island Lake itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Island Lake
2 public schools with 1,065 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Creek School | PK-5 | 598 | 13.6 |
| Matthews Middle School | 6-8 | 467 | 12.0 |
Towns near Island Lake
- Wauconda, IL3.3 mi · 14,084 people · home $278,600
- Volo, IL4.2 mi · 6,122 people · home $319,700
- Lakemoor, IL4.2 mi · 6,182 people · home $265,500
- Lake Barrington, IL5.0 mi · 5,100 people · home $475,700
- Cary, IL5.2 mi · 17,826 people · home $309,800
- Fox River Grove, IL5.8 mi · 4,702 people · home $298,900
- McHenry, IL6.1 mi · 27,135 people · home $266,500
- North Barrington, IL6.2 mi · 3,171 people · home $765,900
Island Lake questions
Is Island Lake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Island Lake scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 47%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Island Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Island Lake is valued at $262,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,156, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,874 a month.
What is the weather like in Island Lake?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Island Lake get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Island Lake 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)