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Buying a home in Rock City, Illinois

The typical owner-occupied home in Rock City is worth about $122,700, 53% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 63% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,013 a year in property taxes, about 2.46% of their home's value, higher than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $68,125 a year, so the median home costs 1.8 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Rock City at a glance

Rock City Illinois U.S.
Median home value $122,700 $263,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,013 $5,298 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.46% 2.01% 0.94%
Median household income $68,125 $83,390 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,435 $1,987 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.4% 20.6% 21.0%
Median rent $842 $1,274 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 21.3% 29.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1954 1971 1980
Vacant homes 1.9% 7.7% 10.1%
Population 441 12,694,798 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Rock City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Rock City home of $122,700 with 20% down costs about $963 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,167, 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 $41,271 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Rock City household income of $68,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $203,000.

The median rent here is $842 a month, so owning the median home costs about $121 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$24,540
Loan amount$98,160
Principal and interest$660
Property taxes (2.46% a year)$252
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
PMI$0
Total per month$963

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,294
Loan amount$120,478
Principal and interest$810
Property taxes (2.46% a year)$252
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
FHA mortgage insurance$54
Total per month$1,167

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Questions about home buying in Rock City

What is the median home value in Rock City?

About $122,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Rock City?

Homeowners pay a median $3,013 a year, which is about 2.46% 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 Rock City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $963 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,271 a year.

More about Rock City

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