The Town FilesPistakee Highlands, Illinois
Community in McHenry County · population 3,237 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,800
- Household income
- $102,986
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 43.1
Pistakee Highlands is a community of 3,237 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $216,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 77% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Pistakee Highlands 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 Pistakee Highlands is worth $216,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $102,986, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,906 a month. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pistakee Highlands | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,906 | $960 |
| Median household income | $102,986 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Pistakee Highlands
| People | Pistakee Highlands | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 36.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Pistakee Highlands
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
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pistakee Highlands since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.90 inches on May 2, 2018.
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 Pistakee Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Pistakee Highlands
- Fox Lake, IL2.2 mi · 10,978 people · home $228,100
- Johnsburg, IL2.3 mi · 6,355 people · home $328,300
- Spring Grove, IL3.6 mi · 5,487 people · home $398,400
- Fox Lake Hills, IL4.4 mi · 2,684 people · home $245,000
- Lakemoor, IL4.5 mi · 6,182 people · home $265,500
- Long Lake, IL4.8 mi · 3,663 people · home $220,100
- Round Lake Heights, IL5.5 mi · 2,622 people · home $216,800
- Volo, IL5.7 mi · 6,122 people · home $319,700
Pistakee Highlands questions
Is Pistakee Highlands, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pistakee Highlands scores better for retirees than 15% of Illinois towns and quieter than 53%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Pistakee Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Pistakee Highlands is valued at $216,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,986, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,906 a month.
What is the weather like in Pistakee Highlands?
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 Pistakee Highlands get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pistakee Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)