Income needed to buy a home
Cook County, IL
$125,182
a year in household income to buy the typical Cook County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$341,570
Down payment (10%)$34,157
Loan$307,413
Principal and interest (7.40%)$2,128/mo
Property tax (1.73% a year)$494/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$171/mo
Mortgage insurance$128/mo
Total monthly cost$2,921/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Far off
The typical household here earns $83,498 a year, 67% of what it takes.
In Illinois
Cook County ranks #96 of 102 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Illinois
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | $51,236 | $17,751 |
| Pulaski County | $74,037 | $25,267 |
| Scott County | $90,376 | $31,882 |
| Saline County | $88,425 | $32,129 |
| Gallatin County | $91,943 | $32,573 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.