Cost of Living in Kankakee 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 Kankakee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kankakee County ranks #2,515 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 20%)
Sourced county brief
Official GRAPI in Kankakee County Reaches 28.5%
The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Kankakee County is 28.5%. This is 2.4 percentage points higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1%. Median gross rent is $1,097 per month, which is $230 above the state unweighted county mean of $867. Median home value in the county was estimated at $192,600, compared to the state unweighted mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,215, while the state mean is $960. Renter-household median income was estimated at $42,313. These statistics represent the 2020-2024 5-year estimate period. 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: Kankakee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.5% of renter household income in Kankakee 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 $1,097 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,215. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $43,880 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. Kankakee County's $1,097 median is 26.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Kankakee County
Rent Burden
18.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,663
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Kankakee County
Median home value is $192,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,538 vs. your max of $1,663.
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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