Cost of Living in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
St. Clair County ranks #2,474 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 21%)
Sourced county brief
St. Clair County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,090 Per Month
St. Clair County’s median gross rent is $1,090 per month according to the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $223 above the Illinois unweighted county mean of $867 per month. For renter-occupied units, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.9%, as recorded in ACS table B25071. This percentage differs by 2.8 percentage points from the Illinois unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.1%. In the owner-occupied sector, median selected monthly owner costs are $1,161, while the state unweighted county mean for this metric is $960. The median home value was estimated at $180,300, which is $27,280 higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Additionally, the median renter-household income for the county is $44,921. These figures describe the housing cost environment for the 2020-2024 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: St. Clair County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in St. Clair 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 $1,090 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,161. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $43,600 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. St. Clair County's $1,090 median is 25.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in St. Clair County
Rent Burden
17.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,723
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in St. Clair County
Median home value is $180,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,439 vs. your max of $1,723.
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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