Income needed to buy a home
Mercer County, IL
$63,321
a year in household income to buy the typical Mercer County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$172,189
Down payment (10%)$17,219
Loan$154,970
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,073/mo
Property tax (1.77% a year)$254/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$86/mo
Mortgage insurance$65/mo
Total monthly cost$1,477/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Within reach
The typical household here earns $74,182 a year, 17% more than it takes.
In Illinois
Mercer County ranks #65 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.