Rent vs. Buy in Jefferson County, IL

Should you rent or buy in Jefferson County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$115,000

Median Rent

$838/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

11.4x

Homeownership Rate

72.0%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$582
Property Tax$165
Insurance$38

Total Monthly$785

Renting

Monthly Rent$838
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$863

In Jefferson County, buying is approximately $53/mo cheaper than renting (before equity buildup and tax benefits).

About Jefferson County, Illinois

Jefferson County in Illinois has a median household income of $58,384 and an effective property tax rate of 1.7%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 11.4x, buying is likely more cost-effective for long-term residents.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Illinois

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.