Cost of Living in Winnebago 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 Winnebago County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Winnebago County ranks #2,265 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 28%)
Sourced county brief
Winnebago County median gross rent exceeds $1,000 monthly
Winnebago County has a median gross rent of $1,021 per month, which is $154 higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of $867. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 29.9% for renter-occupied units, differing from the state unweighted county mean of 26.1% by 3.8 percentage points. Homeowners in the county have a median home value of $164,500 and a median selected monthly owner cost of $1,040. These compare to Illinois unweighted county means of $153,020 for home value and $960 for monthly owner costs. The median income for local renter households is estimated at $40,502. 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: Winnebago County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.9% of renter household income in Winnebago 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 $1,021 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,040. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,840 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. Winnebago County's $1,021 median is 17.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Winnebago County
Rent Burden
18.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,536
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Winnebago County
Median home value is $164,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,313 vs. your max of $1,536.
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
What is the cost of living in Winnebago County, Illinois?
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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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