Skip to main content
ZipVitals

ZIP code

60050

in McHenry, IllinoisPopulation 31,781

56.62/ 100

Ranked #7,625 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)

Ranked #283 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (top 21%)

Ranked #192 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 49%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

What defines this ZIP

Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.

Lithium in drinking water

9.1 µg/L

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

66.6%

in the top 5.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 6.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US94th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Lead in tap water

6.2 ppb

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

US93rd
Definition & source ›

The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Transit access

3.8 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST88th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.

Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.

Full methodology ›

Arsenic in groundwater

15.9%

in the top 9.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST77th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.

A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.

Full methodology ›

Home broadband subscription

96%

in the top 14.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST90th
US86th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

31.1%

in the bottom 15% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US15th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

The read

McHenry, Illinois (ZIP 60050), by its composite score, sits in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,625th) and the top 21% of Illinois (283rd).

continue reading

The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: lithium in drinking water sits in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Transit rests in the top 7.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Home broadband subscription lands in the top 14.3% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled pfas stands in the top 5.5% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 6.2% nationally. Lead in tap water settles in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the top 9.2% nationally.

Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 60012, just across the boundary.

What’s driving this score

Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 75%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 74%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 70%

11%

Disability

healthier than 76%

7%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 58%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 56%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 25%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 76%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 80%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 81%

11%

Disability

healthier than 73%

7%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 45%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 48%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 44%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 34%

14%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 70%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 61%

11%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 54%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 47%

13%

Disability

healthier than 46%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 19%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 36%

5%

“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured

Evidence

Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.

Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults27.3%24.2–30.5
High blood pressure among adults34.3%30.4–38.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.7%7.9–9.6
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.8–11.3
Coronary heart disease among adults5.9%5.3–6.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.6%5.9–7.4
Depression among adults22.6%19.2–26.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.7%9.3–12.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.8%31.7–40.0
Obesity among adults32.9%26.7–39.3
Stroke among adults3.1%2.9–3.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.7%7.7–11.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.4%7.2–9.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.2%71.9–78.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.1%73.3–80.6
Cholesterol screening among adults87.4%85.7–89.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years63.8%58.5–68.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.6%62.0–69.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.1%66.0–81.0
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.6%15.5–22.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults12.8%11.0–14.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults22.2%18.6–25.9
Short sleep duration among adults31.1%25.6–37.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.6%15.4–19.8
Frequent mental distress among adults16.3%14.4–18.3
Frequent physical distress among adults12.6%11.1–14.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.8%11.4–14.3
Any disability among adults28.2%24.4–31.9
Hearing disability among adults6.7%5.9–7.5
Independent living disability among adults7.4%6.6–8.2
Mobility disability among adults12.4%10.8–14.1
Self-care disability among adults3.2%3.0–3.5
Vision disability among adults4.2%3.8–4.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.4%20.1–27.0
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.3%10.5–14.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.5%9.0–12.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.4%8.9–12.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.8–7.4
Loneliness among adults32.6%28.0–37.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.2%5.3–7.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate5.5%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–646.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)7.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)25.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)3.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle5.2%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription96.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)29.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate75.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.9%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377
Foreign-born population8.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households54.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+18.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age42.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$88,812$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$263,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$1,563$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$934 ($675–$1,653) n=1,170
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.2 yr ± 0.4078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.9 yr (75.5–82.2) n=1,348

About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.40 years of 79.2, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured