Cost of Living in Will 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 Will County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Will County ranks #2,947 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Will County median home value reaches $319,600
The median home value in Will County is $319,600, which is $166,580 higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Renter-occupied households face an official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) of 30.9%, a figure that is 4.8 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 26.1%. Median gross rent in the county is $1,462 per month, while median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,823. These monthly costs exceed the state unweighted county means of $867 for rent and $960 for owner costs. The median income for local renter households is $53,701. 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: Will County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.9% of renter household income in Will 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 $1,462 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,823. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $58,480 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. Will County's $1,462 median is 68.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Will County
Rent Burden
16.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,566
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Will County
Median home value is $319,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,551 vs. your max of $2,566.
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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