Housing decision brief
Moultrie County, IL Housing Market
Moultrie County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
41st lowest home value out of 102 Illinois counties with data | 45th lowest rent out of 102
Median home value
$121,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$773/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$853/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
1.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
22.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$80/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$121,500 median home value is 4% below Illinois county median
Lower rent
$773/mo is 3% below Illinois county median
Rent burden below pressure line
22.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Moultrie County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $121,500 | $126,000 | $281,900 | Near state median4% below Illinois county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $773 | $793 | $1,163 | Near state median3% below Illinois county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $853 | $853 | $1,672 | Near state medianAt the Illinois county median |
Median household income | $71,676 | $65,189 | $74,755 | 10% favorable10% above Illinois county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.91% | 2.00% | 1.02% | 5% favorable5% below Illinois county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 22.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 15% favorable22.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$40,756
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$35,119
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Moultrie County is affordable. The median rent is $773/month against a median household income of $71,676, putting rent at 12.9% of income.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Moultrie County is $773/month, while owner costs run $853/month. Renting saves approximately $80/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $30,920/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $36,557/year. With a median household income of $71,676, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 22.0% of renter households in Moultrie County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Moultrie County sits 6% less expensive than Adams County ($826/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County, IL | $122,900 | $766/mo | Same-state comparison near $122,900 home value and $766/mo rent. |
| Cumberland County, IL | $117,700 | $756/mo | Same-state comparison near $117,700 home value and $756/mo rent. |
| Clark County, IL | $123,100 | $828/mo | Same-state comparison near $123,100 home value and $828/mo rent. |
| Macoupin County, IL | $126,100 | $789/mo | Same-state comparison near $126,100 home value and $789/mo rent. |
| Shelby County, IL | $130,400 | $762/mo | Same-state comparison near $130,400 home value and $762/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Moultrie County
Is Moultrie County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Moultrie County?
How much income do you need for housing in Moultrie County?
What should I double-check before moving to Moultrie County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.