Home / Home Buying by state / Illinois / Hamilton County

Buying a home in Hamilton County, Illinois

The typical owner-occupied home in Hamilton County is worth about $113,700, 57% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 66% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,512 a year in property taxes, about 1.33% of their home's value, lower than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $65,746 a year, so the median home costs 1.7 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 34% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Hamilton County at a glance

Hamilton County Illinois U.S.
Median home value $113,700 $263,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,512 $5,298 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.33% 2.01% 0.94%
Median household income $65,746 $83,390 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 76% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 34% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,167 $1,987 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.8% 20.6% 21.0%
Median rent $568 $1,274 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 19.2% 29.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1970 1971 1980
Vacant homes 10.9% 7.7% 10.1%
Population 7,916 12,694,798 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Hamilton County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hamilton County home of $113,700 with 20% down costs about $785 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $975, 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 $33,655 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 14% of the median Hamilton County household income of $65,746; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $222,000.

The median rent here is $568 a month, so owning the median home costs about $217 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$22,740
Loan amount$90,960
Principal and interest$612
Property taxes (1.33% a year)$126
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$47
PMI$0
Total per month$785

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,980
Loan amount$111,641
Principal and interest$751
Property taxes (1.33% a year)$126
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$47
FHA mortgage insurance$50
Total per month$975

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Hamilton County

What is the median home value in Hamilton County?

About $113,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Hamilton County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,512 a year, which is about 1.33% 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 Hamilton County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $785 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $33,655 a year.

More about Hamilton County

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