Cost of Living in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jefferson County ranks #1,678 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 47%)
Sourced county brief
Jefferson County Median Home Value $27,020 Below State Mean
Median home value in Jefferson County is $126,000, which is $27,020 below the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median gross rent is $885 per month, slightly above the state unweighted county mean of $867. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units is $869, compared to the state mean of $960. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 26.9%. This official GRAPI estimate is 0.8 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 26.1%. Renter-occupied households have a median income of $38,918. All figures are snapshot estimates from the American Community Survey 5-year data release. See ACS table B25071 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: Jefferson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.9% of renter household income in Jefferson 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 $885 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $869. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,400 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. Jefferson County's $885 median is 2.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jefferson County
Rent Burden
16.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,473
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Jefferson County
Median home value is $126,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,006 vs. your max of $1,473.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
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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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