Cost of Living in Menard 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 Menard County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Menard County ranks #2,035 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 35%)
Sourced county brief
Menard County Official GRAPI Reaches 31.7 Percent
In Menard County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 31.7%. This metric, which represents the official ACS B25071 estimate for renter households, is 5.6 percentage points higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1%. The median gross rent for the county was $885 per month, which sits above the unweighted county mean of $867 across the state. For owner-occupied housing units, the median monthly owner cost was $1,105, exceeding the unweighted state county mean of $960. The median home value was recorded at $185,500, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $153,020. Among renter-occupied households, the median income was $34,461. These figures represent a snapshot from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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: Menard County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.7% of renter household income in Menard County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. 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 $1,105. 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. Menard 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 Menard County
Rent Burden
12.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,917
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Menard County
Median home value is $185,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,481 vs. your max of $1,917.
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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