McHenry County Property Tax Guide for 55+ Buyers | Sun City Huntley, Algonquin, Crystal Lake

McHenry County effective property tax rates of 2.0–2.4% make it one of the more affordable collar counties on an ongoing-tax basis. Sun City Huntley (McHenry County) runs roughly $3,146/year on the median home — the lowest absolute tax bill of any mega community in the Chicago market, in part because the community's median home value is lower than DuPage or Lake County alternatives. The combination of lower rates and lower home prices produces the most affordable 10-year ownership projection of any large 55+ community in the metro.

McHenry County is exurban — that is the tradeoff: The lower tax rates and lower home prices reflect the county's more exurban character. Huntley, Crystal Lake, and McHenry are 45–55 miles from Chicago. There is no Metra service in Huntley. The Chain O'Lakes region (northern McHenry and Lake County) adds outdoor recreation value, but the county does not have the commercial density of DuPage or the urban proximity of close-in Cook County communities. The tax savings are real; so is the distance.

McHenry County Effective Tax Rate by Home Value

Purchase Price	Annual Tax (low end)	Annual Tax (high end)	Monthly (avg)
$200,000	$4,000	$4,800	$367
$270,000	$5,400	$6,480	$495
$340,000	$6,800	$8,160	$623
$420,000	$8,400	$10,080	$770

McHenry County assesses at 33.33% of market value. Effective rate range reflects variation by municipality and school district. Use the effective rate approach (purchase price × rate) for budgeting rather than trying to calculate from the assessed value figure.

55+ Communities in McHenry County

Sun City Huntley — Huntley~$143/mo · 5,489 homes · Del Webb

The Lakes of Boulder Ridge — Lake in the Hills~$225/mo · Lake views

Grand Reserve Algonquin — Algonquin~$200/mo · 128 homes

Patriot Estates — McHenry~$150/mo · Lowest HOA

Andaré at Glenloch — Algonquin~$175/mo

Andaré at Woodlore Estates — Crystal Lake~$200/mo · Metra access

Andaré at Talamore — Huntley~$200/mo · Golf adjacent

Senior Assessment Freeze in McHenry County

McHenry County SCAFP deadline is typically July 1st. Apply through the McHenry County Assessment Office. The freeze is particularly widely used at Sun City Huntley — many long-time residents have frozen assessments significantly below current market values. Ask about current freeze status when reviewing any resale listing.

The standard SCAFP qualification requires age 65+ as of January 1st of the application year and household income under $65,000 including all sources. The freeze locks your assessed value — not your tax rate. If levies increase, your bill can still rise even with a frozen assessment.

Questions About McHenry County 55+ Communities?

Connect with a McHenry County buyer agent for current listings and specific tax history on homes you are evaluating.

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