Cost of Living in Douglas County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Douglas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Douglas County ranks #1,713 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 45%)
Sourced county brief
Douglas County Median Home Value Estimated at $150,400
Median home value in Douglas County, Illinois, was $150,400, while the Illinois unweighted county mean was $153,020. The official GRAPI was 22.5 percent, which is 3.6 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 26.1 percent. Median gross rent was $848 per month, compared to a state unweighted mean of $867. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $952, which is just below the state unweighted mean of $960. Renter-household median income in the county was recorded at $43,207. These statistics provide a snapshot of Douglas County's housing market and renter economics based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Douglas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 22.5% of renter household income in Douglas County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $848 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $952. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,920 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Douglas County's $848 median is 2.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Douglas County
Rent Burden
13.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,804
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Douglas County
Median home value is $150,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,201 vs. your max of $1,804.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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