Cost of Living in Cook County, Minnesota
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 Cook County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Cook County ranks #1,992 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 37%)
Sourced county brief
Cook County Median Home Value Estimated at $336,200
The median home value in Cook County, Minnesota, was estimated at $336,200, which is $97,864 above the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $238,336. In the rental market, the median gross rent was $886 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $938. The median income for renter-occupied households was $56,940. According to ACS table B25071, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 24.8%. This official rentBurdenGrapiPct is 2.5 percentage points lower than the Minnesota unweighted county mean of 27.3%. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs across all units were $1,063, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,116. All figures are reported from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 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: Cook County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.8% of renter household income in Cook 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 $886 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,063. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,440 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 Minnesota unweighted mean of county median rents is $938 per month. Cook County's $886 median is 5.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Cook County
Rent Burden
14.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,695
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.6%
of gross income
The median home in Cook County may be a stretch
Median home value is $336,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,684 vs. your max of $1,695.
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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