The typical owner-occupied home in Douglas County is worth about $150,400, 43% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 55% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,554 a year in property taxes, about 1.70% of their home's value, lower than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $77,320 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Douglas County at a glance
| Douglas County | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,400 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,554 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.70% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $77,320 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 77% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 55% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,305 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.0% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $848 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 22.5% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1967 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.7% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 19,751 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Douglas County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Douglas County home of $150,400 with 20% down costs about $1,085 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,336, 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 $46,506 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Douglas County household income of $77,320; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $250,000.
The median rent here is $848 a month, so owning the median home costs about $237 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $30,080 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $120,320 |
| Principal and interest | $809 |
| Property taxes (1.70% a year) | $213 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $63 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,085 |
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| Down payment | $5,264 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $147,676 |
| Principal and interest | $993 |
| Property taxes (1.70% a year) | $213 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $63 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $67 |
| Total per month | $1,336 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Douglas County
What is the median home value in Douglas County?
About $150,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Douglas County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,554 a year, which is about 1.70% 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 Douglas County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,085 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,506 a year.
More about Douglas County
- Mortgage Refinance in Douglas County
- Debt Relief in Douglas County
- Home Equity Loans in Douglas County
- 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