The Town FilesWoodstock, Illinois
City in McHenry County · population 25,630 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,700
- Household income
- $82,758
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.7
Woodstock is a city of 25,630 people in McHenry County, Illinois. The median home is worth $245,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Woodstock 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 Woodstock is worth $245,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $82,758, which is more affordable than 21% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,212 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Woodstock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,212 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,758 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Woodstock
| People | Woodstock | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Woodstock
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
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Woodstock since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 2.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 115 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2013.
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 Woodstock itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Woodstock
12 public schools with 6,123 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock High School | 9-12 | 1,037 | 16.2 |
| Woodstock North High School | 8-12 | 908 | 14.2 |
| Creekside Middle School | 5-8 | 742 | 14.0 |
| Verda Dierzen Early Learning Ctr | PK-2 | 669 | 19.7 |
| Northwood Middle School | 6-8 | 632 | 14.0 |
| Olson Elementary School | K-5 | 402 | 16.1 |
| Mary Endres Elementary School | 1-5 | 398 | 17.3 |
| Prairiewood Elem Sch | 1-5 | 359 | 15.0 |
| Westwood Elem School | 1-5 | 354 | 15.4 |
| Dean Street Elem School | PK-5 | 330 | 15.7 |
| Greenwood Elem School | PK-5 | 292 | 17.2 |
| Clay Academy | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Woodstock
- Wonder Lake, IL6.3 mi · 3,973 people · home $252,200
- Lakewood, IL6.4 mi · 4,283 people · home $552,600
- Crystal Lake, IL7.4 mi · 40,269 people · home $311,400
- McHenry, IL7.6 mi · 27,135 people · home $266,500
- Marengo, IL9.4 mi · 7,568 people · home $229,900
- Huntley, IL10.3 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
- Lake in the Hills, IL10.9 mi · 28,982 people · home $321,900
- Johnsburg, IL10.9 mi · 6,355 people · home $328,300
Woodstock questions
Is Woodstock, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Woodstock scores better for retirees than 39% of Illinois towns and quieter than 19%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Woodstock?
The median owner-occupied home in Woodstock is valued at $245,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,758, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,212 a month.
What is the weather like in Woodstock?
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 Woodstock get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Woodstock 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)