The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is worth about $126,000, 52% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 62% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,148 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 $63,118 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 48% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Jefferson County at a glance
| Jefferson County | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,000 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,148 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.70% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $63,118 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 48% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,278 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.2% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $885 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.9% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1977 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.9% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 36,550 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson County home of $126,000 with 20% down costs about $909 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,119, 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 $38,961 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Jefferson County household income of $63,118; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $204,000.
The median rent here is $885 a month, so owning the median home costs about $24 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $25,200 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $100,800 |
| Principal and interest | $678 |
| Property taxes (1.70% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $52 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $909 |
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| Down payment | $4,410 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $123,718 |
| Principal and interest | $832 |
| Property taxes (1.70% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $52 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $56 |
| Total per month | $1,119 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Jefferson County
What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
About $126,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,148 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 Jefferson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $909 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,961 a year.
More about Jefferson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Jefferson County
- Debt Relief in Jefferson County
- Home Equity Loans in Jefferson 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