County housing intelligence
Illinois Housing Market by County
Illinois is not one housing market. Across 102 counties, the median county home value is $134,650 and the median county rent is $811/mo. The useful question is not whether Illinois is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$134,650
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$811/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
102
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Illinois Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
DuPage County, Lake County, Kane County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Alexander County, Gallatin County, Pulaski County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Kendall County, DuPage County, Lake County lead on rent, while Hardin County, Pope County, Gallatin County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Alexander County, Cass County, Gallatin County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Alexander County
$59,800
- 2. Gallatin County
$82,900
- 3. Pulaski County
$85,100
- 4. Franklin County
$89,000
- 5. Saline County
$94,300
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Alexander County
1.3x home-value-to-income
- 2. Cass County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 3. Gallatin County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 4. Scott County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 5. Greene County
1.5x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Hardin County
$379/mo
- 2. Pope County
$449/mo
- 3. Gallatin County
$541/mo
- 4. Hamilton County
$568/mo
- 5. Calhoun County
$583/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Scott County
16.7% rent burden
- 2. Pope County
18.1% rent burden
- 3. Hardin County
19.0% rent burden
- 4. Hamilton County
19.2% rent burden
- 5. Clay County
19.4% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Hardin County
0.96% effective tax rate
- 2. Pulaski County
1.02% effective tax rate
- 3. Pope County
1.03% effective tax rate
- 4. Lawrence County
1.18% effective tax rate
- 5. Johnson County
1.24% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Lawrence County
$221/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Edwards County
$161/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Franklin County
$140/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Vermilion County
$138/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Pulaski County
$110/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Piatt County
$94,811 income, 1.9x value-to-income
- 2. Cass County
$68,125 income, 1.4x value-to-income
- 3. Scott County
$66,705 income, 1.4x value-to-income
- 4. Calhoun County
$93,203 income, 2.0x value-to-income
- 5. Jasper County
$74,755 income, 1.7x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Alexander County $59,800 home value, $47,043 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Cass County $97,100 home value, 2.02% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Mason County $802/mo rent, 43.50% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | DuPage County $391,400 home value, $112,096 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Illinois County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | $59,800 | $656/mo | $47,043 | 1.3x | 1.81% |
| Cass County | $97,100 | $723/mo | $68,125 | 1.4x | 2.02% |
| Gallatin County | $82,900 | $541/mo | $59,219 | 1.4x | 1.57% |
| Scott County | $96,400 | $689/mo | $66,705 | 1.4x | 1.50% |
| Greene County | $95,200 | $754/mo | $62,192 | 1.5x | 1.74% |
| Clay County | $97,400 | $735/mo | $60,417 | 1.6x | 1.43% |
| Edgar County | $97,300 | $775/mo | $59,941 | 1.6x | 1.45% |
| Franklin County | $89,000 | $803/mo | $56,740 | 1.6x | 1.57% |
| Mason County | $103,400 | $802/mo | $62,845 | 1.6x | 2.09% |
| Warren County | $105,000 | $788/mo | $67,385 | 1.6x | 1.81% |
| Crawford County | $121,100 | $811/mo | $71,674 | 1.7x | 1.49% |
| Cumberland County | $126,000 | $772/mo | $73,327 | 1.7x | 1.59% |
| Edwards County | $100,000 | $811/mo | $60,519 | 1.7x | 1.45% |
| Hamilton County | $113,700 | $568/mo | $65,746 | 1.7x | 1.33% |
| Hancock County | $113,800 | $782/mo | $65,865 | 1.7x | 1.81% |
| Henderson County | $104,400 | $764/mo | $62,227 | 1.7x | 1.58% |
| Jasper County | $125,500 | $793/mo | $74,755 | 1.7x | 1.95% |
| Marion County | $103,000 | $794/mo | $61,240 | 1.7x | 1.71% |
| Pike County | $101,400 | $676/mo | $59,777 | 1.7x | 1.53% |
| Schuyler County | $109,700 | $853/mo | $65,948 | 1.7x | 1.78% |
| Stark County | $104,500 | $735/mo | $62,878 | 1.7x | 1.69% |
| Vermilion County | $97,200 | $838/mo | $56,877 | 1.7x | 1.81% |
| Bureau County | $126,900 | $832/mo | $69,257 | 1.8x | 2.01% |
| Christian County | $115,500 | $785/mo | $62,611 | 1.8x | 1.64% |
| Clark County | $132,400 | $861/mo | $72,927 | 1.8x | 1.56% |
| De Witt County | $130,300 | $903/mo | $71,678 | 1.8x | 1.78% |
| Fulton County | $107,200 | $785/mo | $60,599 | 1.8x | 2.14% |
| Lawrence County | $99,100 | $836/mo | $55,324 | 1.8x | 1.18% |
| Montgomery County | $112,300 | $723/mo | $63,620 | 1.8x | 1.68% |
| Perry County | $112,600 | $728/mo | $62,118 | 1.8x | 1.60% |
| Richland County | $112,000 | $805/mo | $62,455 | 1.8x | 1.58% |
| Saline County | $94,300 | $726/mo | $53,117 | 1.8x | 1.69% |
| Wabash County | $104,900 | $794/mo | $57,086 | 1.8x | 1.41% |
| Carroll County | $114,500 | $818/mo | $60,758 | 1.9x | 1.99% |
| Douglas County | $150,400 | $848/mo | $77,320 | 1.9x | 1.70% |
| Hardin County | $103,800 | $379/mo | $54,271 | 1.9x | 0.96% |
| Livingston County | $142,200 | $880/mo | $73,790 | 1.9x | 2.04% |
| Massac County | $121,900 | $756/mo | $65,116 | 1.9x | 1.40% |
| Moultrie County | $134,000 | $804/mo | $71,784 | 1.9x | 1.80% |
| Piatt County | $180,600 | $1,046/mo | $94,811 | 1.9x | 1.81% |
| Shelby County | $137,100 | $814/mo | $72,095 | 1.9x | 1.50% |
| Whiteside County | $127,100 | $856/mo | $67,500 | 1.9x | 2.04% |
| Calhoun County | $190,900 | $583/mo | $93,203 | 2.0x | 1.39% |
| Ford County | $122,000 | $923/mo | $62,439 | 2.0x | 2.12% |
| Jefferson County | $126,000 | $885/mo | $63,118 | 2.0x | 1.70% |
| Knox County | $111,900 | $788/mo | $57,030 | 2.0x | 1.96% |
| Logan County | $134,400 | $829/mo | $66,358 | 2.0x | 1.77% |
| Macon County | $127,300 | $847/mo | $62,666 | 2.0x | 2.12% |
| Macoupin County | $138,200 | $801/mo | $70,805 | 2.0x | 1.50% |
| Marshall County | $142,800 | $782/mo | $71,585 | 2.0x | 1.94% |
| McDonough County | $107,500 | $761/mo | $52,795 | 2.0x | 2.13% |
| Mercer County | $146,700 | $786/mo | $74,182 | 2.0x | 1.96% |
| Morgan County | $130,800 | $722/mo | $66,306 | 2.0x | 1.76% |
| Pulaski County | $85,100 | $634/mo | $42,463 | 2.0x | 1.02% |
| Randolph County | $135,100 | $780/mo | $68,131 | 2.0x | 1.43% |
| Washington County | $155,700 | $818/mo | $78,224 | 2.0x | 1.87% |
| Wayne County | $110,700 | $657/mo | $55,521 | 2.0x | 1.49% |
| White County | $108,100 | $719/mo | $54,813 | 2.0x | 1.34% |
| Fayette County | $130,700 | $798/mo | $60,944 | 2.1x | 1.45% |
| Henry County | $151,600 | $842/mo | $71,911 | 2.1x | 1.99% |
| Iroquois County | $137,800 | $799/mo | $66,255 | 2.1x | 1.82% |
| Jersey County | $171,900 | $846/mo | $80,361 | 2.1x | 1.76% |
| Stephenson County | $134,900 | $798/mo | $64,043 | 2.1x | 2.40% |
| Tazewell County | $167,500 | $909/mo | $77,982 | 2.1x | 2.11% |
| Bond County | $145,700 | $785/mo | $65,959 | 2.2x | 1.89% |
| Brown County | $150,300 | $698/mo | $67,917 | 2.2x | 1.52% |
| Clinton County | $192,400 | $912/mo | $86,588 | 2.2x | 1.83% |
| LaSalle County | $161,900 | $928/mo | $73,045 | 2.2x | 2.11% |
| Lee County | $154,600 | $894/mo | $70,292 | 2.2x | 1.97% |
| Rock Island County | $150,400 | $889/mo | $67,159 | 2.2x | 2.28% |
| Woodford County | $197,600 | $912/mo | $91,483 | 2.2x | 2.13% |
| Coles County | $127,400 | $780/mo | $56,478 | 2.3x | 1.94% |
| Madison County | $173,000 | $1,024/mo | $75,793 | 2.3x | 1.92% |
| Menard County | $185,500 | $885/mo | $82,176 | 2.3x | 1.72% |
| Ogle County | $189,200 | $936/mo | $82,132 | 2.3x | 2.06% |
| Putnam County | $172,700 | $851/mo | $75,590 | 2.3x | 1.57% |
| Sangamon County | $176,300 | $983/mo | $75,357 | 2.3x | 1.99% |
| Effingham County | $189,500 | $733/mo | $80,404 | 2.4x | 1.49% |
| Peoria County | $158,500 | $993/mo | $65,108 | 2.4x | 2.24% |
| Pope County | $143,800 | $449/mo | $60,050 | 2.4x | 1.03% |
| St. Clair County | $180,300 | $1,090/mo | $73,854 | 2.4x | 2.03% |
| Union County | $131,700 | $648/mo | $55,728 | 2.4x | 1.30% |
| Williamson County | $156,400 | $930/mo | $65,604 | 2.4x | 1.72% |
| Adams County | $162,600 | $828/mo | $66,220 | 2.5x | 1.58% |
| Winnebago County | $164,500 | $1,021/mo | $65,837 | 2.5x | 2.39% |
| Boone County | $216,900 | $1,041/mo | $84,571 | 2.6x | 2.18% |
| Johnson County | $160,500 | $781/mo | $62,528 | 2.6x | 1.24% |
| McLean County | $208,400 | $1,009/mo | $79,905 | 2.6x | 2.17% |
| Kankakee County | $192,600 | $1,097/mo | $71,281 | 2.7x | 2.21% |
| Monroe County | $282,100 | $1,042/mo | $102,880 | 2.7x | 1.63% |
| Jackson County | $137,300 | $782/mo | $48,763 | 2.8x | 1.84% |
| Jo Daviess County | $209,900 | $825/mo | $73,993 | 2.8x | 1.72% |
| Grundy County | $271,700 | $1,177/mo | $92,235 | 2.9x | 1.99% |
| Kendall County | $322,400 | $1,781/mo | $111,601 | 2.9x | 2.37% |
| McHenry County | $308,100 | $1,401/mo | $104,802 | 2.9x | 2.36% |
| Will County | $319,600 | $1,462/mo | $109,984 | 2.9x | 2.24% |
| Lake County | $345,700 | $1,477/mo | $110,416 | 3.1x | 2.58% |
| Kane County | $327,000 | $1,453/mo | $103,163 | 3.2x | 2.26% |
| Champaign County | $211,500 | $1,051/mo | $63,683 | 3.3x | 2.06% |
| DeKalb County | $243,600 | $1,049/mo | $70,724 | 3.4x | 2.45% |
| DuPage County | $391,400 | $1,688/mo | $112,096 | 3.5x | 2.05% |
| Cook County | $324,500 | $1,435/mo | $83,498 | 3.9x | 1.91% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Illinois by county?
What is the typical rent in Illinois by county?
Which Illinois counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.