Median Age
41 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
18%
Crystal Lake, IL
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,816
Population
41,489
Renter Mix
23% Rent
A tranquil Chicago suburb
Commuter
•
Outdoors
•
Suburb
Named in 1835 when a settler described its waters as "clear as crystal," Crystal Lake remains the most populous city in McHenry County and an anchor of Chicago's northwest suburbs. Life revolves around the outdoors, with the namesake lake and surrounding parks offering boating, swimming, biking, and golf minutes from your front door. Historic Downtown along Main Street brings dining, shopping, and nightlife, creating a small-town pulse without feeling isolated.
Metra rail connects Crystal Lake directly to downtown Chicago, making it ideal for those wanting suburban breathing room with easy city access. The rental market offers diverse options across the city's 20 square miles, from spacious townhomes and garden-style apartments to newer, amenity-rich developments. Whether you're seeking something cozy or a larger multi-bedroom layout, there's a solid mix to explore.
Explore the City
Crystal Lake sidewalks are adorned with blooming flowers.
Play some baseball at one of many fields in Crystal Lake.
Enjoy a beautiful day on the water at the Three Oaks Recreation Area.
Lake Park/Main Beach is home to a bathhouse, fishing pier, boat launch, and much more.
Take in nature's beauty at West Park.
Three Oaks Recreation Area was originally a quarry, but today is a local park w/two lakes.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$93,227
Average: $111,921
Education
13,747
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
23,045
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Crystal Lake has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
23%
Non-Renters
77%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
28%
Other Education
72%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Crystal Lake, IL is $1,570 for a studio, $1,817 for one bedroom, $2,134 for two bedrooms, and $2,715 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Crystal Lake has increased by 4.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,817/month
800 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,750/month
941 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Crystal Lake, IL is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Minimal Public Transit
Transit
10
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
596 Students
Prairie Grove Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
545 Students
Public
Grades K-5
478 Students
Public
Grades K-5
476 Students
Indian Prairie Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
468 Students
Hannah Beardsley Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
811 Students
Prairie Grove Junior High School
Public
Grades K-8
351 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
793 Students
Richard F Bernotas Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
757 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,150 Students
Crystal Lake Central High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,429 Students
Crystal Lake South High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,212 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center
- The Hollows Conservation Area & Lake Atwood
- Lake in the Hills Fen
- Exner Marsh Conservation Area
- Pleasant Valley Conservation Area
Airports
- Chicago O'Hare International
Top Apartments in Crystal Lake
Houses for Rent in Crystal Lake
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.