Income needed to buy a home
DeKalb County, IL
$115,086
a year in household income to buy the typical DeKalb County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$299,128
Down payment (10%)$29,913
Loan$269,215
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,864/mo
Property tax (2.25% a year)$560/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$150/mo
Mortgage insurance$112/mo
Total monthly cost$2,685/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 $70,724 a year, 61% of what it takes.
In Illinois
DeKalb County ranks #93 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.