The typical owner-occupied home in Illinois is worth about $263,300, 21% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,298 a year in property taxes, about 2.01% of their home's value, higher than the national rate of 0.94%. The median household earns $83,390 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (4.1 times for the U.S.). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Illinois at a glance
| Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Illinois
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Illinois home of $263,300 with 20% down costs about $1,968 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,406, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $84,331 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Illinois household income of $83,390; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $260,000.
The median rent here is $1,274 a month, so owning the median home costs about $694 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $52,660 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $210,640 |
| Principal and interest | $1,417 |
| Property taxes (2.01% a year) | $441 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $110 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,968 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,216 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $258,531 |
| Principal and interest | $1,739 |
| Property taxes (2.01% a year) | $441 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $110 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $116 |
| Total per month | $2,406 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Illinois
What is the median home value in Illinois?
About $263,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Illinois?
Homeowners pay a median $5,298 a year, which is about 2.01% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Illinois?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,968 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $84,331 a year.
More about Illinois
- Mortgage Refinance in Illinois
- Debt Relief in Illinois
- Home Equity Loans in Illinois
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data