County housing intelligence
Illinois Housing Market by County
Illinois is not one housing market. Across 102 counties, the median county home value is $126,000 and the median county rent is $793/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
$126,000
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$793/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, Cook County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Alexander County, Pulaski County, Gallatin County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Kendall County, DuPage County, Lake County lead on rent, while Hardin County, Pope County, Calhoun County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Alexander County, Scott County, Cass 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
$58,700
- 2. Pulaski County
$81,000
- 3. Gallatin County
$84,700
- 4. Franklin County
$87,700
- 5. Hardin County
$91,700
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Alexander County
1.3x home-value-to-income
- 2. Scott County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 3. Cass County
1.5x home-value-to-income
- 4. Greene County
1.5x home-value-to-income
- 5. Henderson County
1.5x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Hardin County
$342/mo
- 2. Pope County
$438/mo
- 3. Calhoun County
$479/mo
- 4. Gallatin County
$500/mo
- 5. Alexander County
$540/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Pope County
17.0% rent burden
- 2. Scott County
17.0% rent burden
- 3. Gallatin County
19.0% rent burden
- 4. Hamilton County
19.0% rent burden
- 5. Jasper County
19.0% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Pulaski County
0.82% effective tax rate
- 2. Pope County
1.02% effective tax rate
- 3. Hardin County
1.18% effective tax rate
- 4. Lawrence County
1.21% effective tax rate
- 5. Johnson County
1.32% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Lawrence County
$203/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Henderson County
$186/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Vermilion County
$139/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Pulaski County
$131/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Franklin County
$119/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Scott County
$73,013 income, 1.4x value-to-income
- 2. Calhoun County
$92,095 income, 1.9x value-to-income
- 3. Henderson County
$65,651 income, 1.5x value-to-income
- 4. Piatt County
$87,516 income, 2.0x value-to-income
- 5. Cass County
$64,907 income, 1.5x 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 $58,700 home value, $43,523 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Cass County $95,500 home value, 2.10% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | DeKalb County $1,041/mo rent, 33.00% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | DuPage County $374,100 home value, $110,502 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 | $58,700 | $540/mo | $43,523 | 1.3x | 1.65% |
| Scott County | $101,700 | $669/mo | $73,013 | 1.4x | 1.38% |
| Cass County | $95,500 | $723/mo | $64,907 | 1.5x | 2.10% |
| Greene County | $94,400 | $800/mo | $60,976 | 1.5x | 1.66% |
| Henderson County | $101,600 | $834/mo | $65,651 | 1.5x | 1.68% |
| Clay County | $94,300 | $709/mo | $57,266 | 1.6x | 1.62% |
| Edwards County | $97,500 | $746/mo | $59,386 | 1.6x | 1.47% |
| Franklin County | $87,700 | $771/mo | $53,471 | 1.6x | 1.50% |
| Gallatin County | $84,700 | $500/mo | $54,626 | 1.6x | 1.51% |
| Hardin County | $91,700 | $342/mo | $57,155 | 1.6x | 1.18% |
| Marion County | $100,100 | $771/mo | $60,839 | 1.6x | 1.71% |
| Schuyler County | $106,200 | $836/mo | $66,059 | 1.6x | 1.83% |
| Warren County | $101,300 | $694/mo | $64,650 | 1.6x | 1.90% |
| Clark County | $123,100 | $828/mo | $70,625 | 1.7x | 1.68% |
| Crawford County | $113,700 | $761/mo | $67,614 | 1.7x | 1.56% |
| Cumberland County | $117,700 | $756/mo | $69,826 | 1.7x | 1.76% |
| Edgar County | $95,700 | $757/mo | $56,909 | 1.7x | 1.54% |
| Fulton County | $102,500 | $808/mo | $58,617 | 1.7x | 2.13% |
| Hancock County | $108,400 | $755/mo | $65,044 | 1.7x | 1.86% |
| Jasper County | $122,900 | $766/mo | $71,094 | 1.7x | 1.90% |
| Mason County | $106,100 | $760/mo | $62,127 | 1.7x | 2.15% |
| Montgomery County | $102,200 | $715/mo | $61,863 | 1.7x | 1.72% |
| Moultrie County | $121,500 | $773/mo | $71,676 | 1.7x | 1.91% |
| Pike County | $100,100 | $659/mo | $58,029 | 1.7x | 1.56% |
| Saline County | $92,900 | $711/mo | $54,945 | 1.7x | 1.56% |
| Stark County | $103,500 | $765/mo | $62,284 | 1.7x | 1.64% |
| Vermilion County | $92,900 | $802/mo | $54,537 | 1.7x | 1.79% |
| Bureau County | $121,900 | $838/mo | $65,894 | 1.8x | 2.07% |
| Hamilton County | $108,800 | $566/mo | $61,520 | 1.8x | 1.35% |
| Lawrence County | $95,500 | $810/mo | $53,438 | 1.8x | 1.21% |
| Macoupin County | $126,100 | $789/mo | $68,518 | 1.8x | 1.58% |
| Perry County | $105,200 | $714/mo | $59,286 | 1.8x | 1.66% |
| Richland County | $106,600 | $754/mo | $60,404 | 1.8x | 1.52% |
| Calhoun County | $174,000 | $479/mo | $92,095 | 1.9x | 1.47% |
| Carroll County | $113,500 | $784/mo | $60,871 | 1.9x | 2.03% |
| Christian County | $112,100 | $729/mo | $59,253 | 1.9x | 1.69% |
| De Witt County | $124,200 | $857/mo | $64,802 | 1.9x | 1.85% |
| Douglas County | $142,600 | $818/mo | $74,186 | 1.9x | 1.81% |
| Ford County | $118,100 | $836/mo | $60,782 | 1.9x | 2.07% |
| Jefferson County | $118,400 | $862/mo | $61,102 | 1.9x | 1.71% |
| Livingston County | $131,500 | $855/mo | $70,796 | 1.9x | 2.18% |
| Massac County | $118,000 | $793/mo | $62,584 | 1.9x | 1.50% |
| Mercer County | $139,300 | $757/mo | $71,710 | 1.9x | 1.95% |
| Pulaski County | $81,000 | $625/mo | $43,227 | 1.9x | 0.82% |
| Randolph County | $134,100 | $760/mo | $68,870 | 1.9x | 1.40% |
| Shelby County | $130,400 | $762/mo | $68,457 | 1.9x | 1.50% |
| Wabash County | $103,900 | $774/mo | $53,650 | 1.9x | 1.47% |
| White County | $100,100 | $706/mo | $53,097 | 1.9x | 1.39% |
| Whiteside County | $125,800 | $808/mo | $64,536 | 1.9x | 2.13% |
| Brown County | $142,200 | $724/mo | $72,288 | 2.0x | 1.47% |
| Fayette County | $114,700 | $740/mo | $57,113 | 2.0x | 1.52% |
| Iroquois County | $125,400 | $793/mo | $62,439 | 2.0x | 1.95% |
| Knox County | $104,900 | $725/mo | $53,291 | 2.0x | 1.95% |
| Logan County | $125,900 | $804/mo | $64,188 | 2.0x | 1.84% |
| Macon County | $121,800 | $797/mo | $62,449 | 2.0x | 2.10% |
| Marshall County | $137,800 | $767/mo | $69,818 | 2.0x | 1.99% |
| Morgan County | $128,700 | $710/mo | $65,175 | 2.0x | 1.88% |
| Piatt County | $173,200 | $950/mo | $87,516 | 2.0x | 1.76% |
| Washington County | $149,800 | $776/mo | $75,652 | 2.0x | 1.85% |
| Henry County | $145,300 | $837/mo | $69,912 | 2.1x | 1.98% |
| Jersey County | $168,800 | $794/mo | $79,104 | 2.1x | 1.75% |
| LaSalle County | $154,900 | $906/mo | $72,281 | 2.1x | 2.15% |
| McDonough County | $103,500 | $730/mo | $50,434 | 2.1x | 2.16% |
| Stephenson County | $127,500 | $764/mo | $61,943 | 2.1x | 2.46% |
| Tazewell County | $164,500 | $898/mo | $76,704 | 2.1x | 2.12% |
| Wayne County | $109,400 | $632/mo | $53,107 | 2.1x | 1.53% |
| Bond County | $133,100 | $735/mo | $61,603 | 2.2x | 1.96% |
| Clinton County | $180,500 | $934/mo | $82,314 | 2.2x | 1.86% |
| Coles County | $121,900 | $793/mo | $56,040 | 2.2x | 2.05% |
| Madison County | $167,900 | $969/mo | $74,800 | 2.2x | 1.93% |
| Menard County | $179,300 | $780/mo | $81,334 | 2.2x | 1.64% |
| Putnam County | $167,800 | $804/mo | $77,526 | 2.2x | 1.59% |
| Rock Island County | $144,700 | $863/mo | $66,768 | 2.2x | 2.33% |
| Williamson County | $145,600 | $897/mo | $65,521 | 2.2x | 1.71% |
| Johnson County | $148,200 | $634/mo | $65,203 | 2.3x | 1.32% |
| Lee County | $155,100 | $853/mo | $68,459 | 2.3x | 1.92% |
| Ogle County | $184,100 | $901/mo | $79,244 | 2.3x | 2.03% |
| Peoria County | $152,600 | $946/mo | $64,938 | 2.3x | 2.24% |
| Sangamon County | $170,300 | $954/mo | $74,114 | 2.3x | 1.98% |
| Union County | $131,700 | $658/mo | $56,420 | 2.3x | 1.41% |
| Woodford County | $193,800 | $907/mo | $85,629 | 2.3x | 2.18% |
| Adams County | $155,900 | $826/mo | $64,962 | 2.4x | 1.58% |
| Boone County | $198,600 | $1,011/mo | $81,638 | 2.4x | 2.27% |
| Effingham County | $179,800 | $734/mo | $75,380 | 2.4x | 1.51% |
| St. Clair County | $168,800 | $1,032/mo | $70,178 | 2.4x | 2.09% |
| Winnebago County | $155,100 | $986/mo | $64,363 | 2.4x | 2.48% |
| McLean County | $198,300 | $992/mo | $78,329 | 2.5x | 2.27% |
| Jo Daviess County | $193,900 | $795/mo | $74,954 | 2.6x | 1.74% |
| Monroe County | $265,600 | $996/mo | $101,635 | 2.6x | 1.70% |
| Pope County | $165,300 | $438/mo | $62,500 | 2.6x | 1.02% |
| Jackson County | $125,000 | $746/mo | $45,572 | 2.7x | 1.91% |
| Kankakee County | $185,700 | $1,075/mo | $68,325 | 2.7x | 2.22% |
| Kendall County | $298,900 | $1,763/mo | $110,474 | 2.7x | 2.53% |
| Grundy County | $259,200 | $1,137/mo | $93,060 | 2.8x | 2.03% |
| McHenry County | $286,900 | $1,358/mo | $102,836 | 2.8x | 2.49% |
| Will County | $298,000 | $1,413/mo | $107,799 | 2.8x | 2.35% |
| Kane County | $303,000 | $1,404/mo | $100,678 | 3.0x | 2.39% |
| Lake County | $326,600 | $1,434/mo | $108,917 | 3.0x | 2.68% |
| Champaign County | $205,100 | $1,018/mo | $63,091 | 3.3x | 2.07% |
| DeKalb County | $231,900 | $1,041/mo | $69,022 | 3.4x | 2.54% |
| DuPage County | $374,100 | $1,628/mo | $110,502 | 3.4x | 2.09% |
| Cook County | $305,200 | $1,381/mo | $81,797 | 3.7x | 1.98% |
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.