Counties in Illinois where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

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October 3, 2021
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Counties in Illinois where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It’s no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Illinois where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don’t have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people’s take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Monroe County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 13,586
- Median household income: $85,747
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,135

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Dual Freq // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Douglas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 7,613
- Median household income: $56,714
- Median monthly housing cost: $751

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Kepper66 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Bureau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
- Total occupied households: 13,698
- Median household income: $57,436
- Median monthly housing cost: $761

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#47. Saline County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.1%
- Total occupied households: 9,972
- Median household income: $44,090
- Median monthly housing cost: $585

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Pulaski County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,095
- Median household income: $34,640
- Median monthly housing cost: $462

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#45. Fulton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.9%
- Total occupied households: 13,940
- Median household income: $51,643
- Median monthly housing cost: $691

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#44. Mason County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 5,977
- Median household income: $48,417
- Median monthly housing cost: $648

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IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Lee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 13,788
- Median household income: $58,194
- Median monthly housing cost: $781

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#42. Jo Daviess County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 9,970
- Median household income: $57,946
- Median monthly housing cost: $788

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Mingusboodle // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Pike County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.7%
- Total occupied households: 6,309
- Median household income: $47,492
- Median monthly housing cost: $648

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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Tazewell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.6%
- Total occupied households: 54,291
- Median household income: $63,454
- Median monthly housing cost: $870

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Marion County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 15,946
- Median household income: $47,519
- Median monthly housing cost: $652

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Alexander County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 2,154
- Median household income: $36,806
- Median monthly housing cost: $508

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IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Whiteside County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
- Total occupied households: 23,084
- Median household income: $54,232
- Median monthly housing cost: $752

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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Iroquois County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 11,741
- Median household income: $52,700
- Median monthly housing cost: $738

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Franklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.7%
- Total occupied households: 16,235
- Median household income: $42,769
- Median monthly housing cost: $601

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Vermilion County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 31,151
- Median household income: $46,515
- Median monthly housing cost: $655

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#33. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 14,985
- Median household income: $49,896
- Median monthly housing cost: $704

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A. McMurray (A mcmurray) // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Ogle County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 21,021
- Median household income: $60,986
- Median monthly housing cost: $863

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Archedamian // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Macon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 43,912
- Median household income: $50,480
- Median monthly housing cost: $719

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#30. Adams County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.1%
- Total occupied households: 27,112
- Median household income: $52,993
- Median monthly housing cost: $757

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IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Livingston County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 14,307
- Median household income: $55,160
- Median monthly housing cost: $789

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Teemu08 // Wikimedia Commons

#28. LaSalle County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 45,095
- Median household income: $58,142
- Median monthly housing cost: $832

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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Sangamon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 83,711
- Median household income: $61,912
- Median monthly housing cost: $887

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#26. Williamson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 27,029
- Median household income: $50,734
- Median monthly housing cost: $733

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Morgan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 13,719
- Median household income: $51,437
- Median monthly housing cost: $744

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#24. Grundy County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 19,676
- Median household income: $77,350
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,132

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Michael from Palatine, Illinois // Wikimedia Commons

#23. McLean County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 65,845
- Median household income: $67,675
- Median monthly housing cost: $992

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#22. Stephenson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 19,739
- Median household income: $48,805
- Median monthly housing cost: $716

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Massac County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,822
- Median household income: $47,481
- Median monthly housing cost: $697

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Madison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 107,659
- Median household income: $60,738
- Median monthly housing cost: $902

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Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Rock Island County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 60,546
- Median household income: $54,858
- Median monthly housing cost: $815

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#18. Knox County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 20,680
- Median household income: $44,129
- Median monthly housing cost: $659

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#17. McDonough County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 11,408
- Median household income: $44,471
- Median monthly housing cost: $678

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#16. Peoria County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 73,253
- Median household income: $55,842
- Median monthly housing cost: $855

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Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Coles County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 20,926
- Median household income: $46,202
- Median monthly housing cost: $721

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Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Boone County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.6%
- Total occupied households: 18,571
- Median household income: $69,272
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,113

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Alexbaumgarner // Wikimedia

#13. Winnebago County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.4%
- Total occupied households: 114,779
- Median household income: $54,489
- Median monthly housing cost: $878

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Neatpete86 // Wikimedia Commons

#12. DuPage County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
- Total occupied households: 342,791
- Median household income: $92,809
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,539

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MrHarman // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Kankakee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.3%
- Total occupied households: 39,796
- Median household income: $58,902
- Median monthly housing cost: $977

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Xing979 // Wikimedia Commons

#10. St. Clair County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.7%
- Total occupied households: 104,105
- Median household income: $55,179
- Median monthly housing cost: $919

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Carldaniel // Wikimedia Commons

#9. McHenry County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.3%
- Total occupied households: 112,453
- Median household income: $86,799
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,462

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edward P. steinburg desnged // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Lake County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.3%
- Total occupied households: 246,122
- Median household income: $89,427
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,520

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#7. DeKalb County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.6%
- Total occupied households: 38,150
- Median household income: $63,317
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,078

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Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Will County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.3%
- Total occupied households: 229,498
- Median household income: $86,961
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,488

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#5. Kane County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.2%
- Total occupied households: 179,637
- Median household income: $79,394
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,388

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IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Kendall County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.3%
- Total occupied households: 40,721
- Median household income: $96,563
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,716

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Beyond My Ken // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Champaign County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.0%
- Total occupied households: 82,369
- Median household income: $52,797
- Median monthly housing cost: $946

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#2. Jackson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 35.0%
- Total occupied households: 23,883
- Median household income: $37,241
- Median monthly housing cost: $710

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#1. Cook County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 37.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 36.5%
- Total occupied households: 1,972,108
- Median household income: $64,660
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,273

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