Cost of Living in Pope 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 Pope County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Pope County ranks #209 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Pope County Median Monthly Gross Rent Fixed at $449
In Pope County, the median gross rent is $449 per month, which is $418 below the state unweighted county mean of $867 per month. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or GRAPI, is 18.1 percent in the county. This figure is 8 percentage points below the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1 percent. The median income for renter-occupied households in the county is $25,625. For those owning homes, the median home value is $143,800, compared to the unweighted county mean of $153,020 for the state. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units are $649, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $960. The rent-to-income metric provided is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI for renter-occupied housing units. 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: Pope County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 18.1% of renter household income in Pope 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 $449 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $649. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $17,960 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. Pope County's $449 median is 48.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Pope County
Rent Burden
9.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,401
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Pope County
Median home value is $143,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,148 vs. your max of $1,401.
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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