Cook County, IL

Comprehensive housing, income, and cost of living data for Cook County, Illinois. Population: 5.2M.

Median Home Price
$305.4K

Based on 164 cities

Median Household Income
$81.8K

Annual household income

Price-to-Income Ratio
3.7x

Moderately affordable

Salary Needed to Buy
$93.3K

30-yr mortgage, 6.5% rate, 20% down

Housing & Finance

Annual Property Tax
$6,053

Average annual amount

Effective Tax Rate
1.98%

Property tax / home value

Monthly Housing Costs
Mortgage (P&I)$1,544
Property Tax$504
Insurance$127
Total Monthly$2,176
Historical Home Prices
2015
$199.2K
2016
$209.6K
+5.2%%
2017
$220.8K
+5.3%%
2018
$228.3K
+3.4%%
2019
$230.6K
+1.0%%
2020
$244.6K
+6.1%%
2021
$266.4K
+8.9%%
2022
$278.3K
+4.5%%
2023
$291.0K
+4.6%%
2024
$303.1K
+4.2%%
2025
$312.8K
+3.2%%
Source: County price history data via Zillow ZHVI

Demographics & Economics

Unemployment Rate
5.2%%

Near national average

Population Density
5,530

People per square mile

Homicide Rate
15.4

Medium (per 100K residents)

Political Lean (2020)
Competitive

D+0

Racial Demographics

White
40.5%
Black
22.1%
Hispanic
26.5%
Asian
7.7%
Two or More Races
2.7%

Source: Census ACS 2023. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity counted separately from race.

Climate & Environment

Average Temperature
50°F

Annual average

Sunny Days
189

Days per year

Annual Rainfall
38.3"

Inches per year

Natural Disaster Risk
High Risk

Score: 100/100

January Low
13°F

Average winter low

July High
81°F

Average summer high

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home price in Cook County, IL?

The median home price in Cook County, Illinois is $305.4K. The price-to-income ratio is 3.7x, meaning the median home costs 3.7 times the median household income.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Cook County?

Based on a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% with 20% down and the 28% debt-to-income rule, you need approximately $93.3K per year to buy the median home in Cook County, IL. Monthly housing costs break down to $1,544 for mortgage, $504 for property tax, and $127 for insurance.

What is the property tax rate in Cook County?

The effective property tax rate in Cook County is 1.98%, which comes to approximately $6,053 per year on the median home.

What is the median household income in Cook County?

The median household income in Cook County, Illinois is $81.8K per year, based on Census Bureau American Community Survey data. The unemployment rate is 5.2%%.

Is Cook County a good place to live?

Cook County, Illinois has a population of 5.2M. Housing affordability is strong with a price-to-income ratio of 3.7x. The climate averages 50 degrees F with 189 sunny days per year. Compare Cook County with other areas using our cost of living tools to find the best fit for your budget and lifestyle.