Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $5,833/yr
- Without mortgage
- $4,463/yr
- Gap
- $1,370
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Illinois Property Taxes
The average Illinois homeowner pays $5,298 a year at an effective rate of 2.01%. That bill is 166% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 102 counties below.
- $5,298
- Avg median tax
- 2.01%
- Effective rate
- #2 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 102
- Counties
Illinois is one of the most heavily property-taxed places in the country: a median bill of $5,298 a year at an effective rate of 2.01%, the 2nd-highest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Illinois homeowner pays $5,298 a year on a home worth $263,300, an effective rate of 2.01%. The bill runs 166% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $869 (Pulaski County) to $8,923 (Lake County) across 102 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Illinois run from $869 in Pulaski County to $8,923 (Lake County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $869–$8,923 (Lake County)
- County median-bill range
- 2.03%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 67%
- Homes in the eight largest counties
County medians come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024. The statewide effective rate in the hero is median tax divided by median home value.
Collector rank · FY2024
Illinois is a top-tier collector of U.S. state-and-local property tax
#5 of 51 · 5.3% of U.S. collections
In Census FY2024, Illinois's state and local governments collected $38.3B in property tax - 5.3% of the U.S. total (#5 of 51).
Spread across 3,378,910 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $11,338 per home - 2.1× the ACS median homeowner bill of $5,298. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
- New Jersey at 4.81% U.S. share (lower)
- Florida at 6.43% U.S. share (higher)
- Pennsylvania at 3.25% U.S. share (lower)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, FY2024, series LF0009 (property tax), government level State and Local (GOVTYPE 001). Amounts are published in thousands of dollars. This is a government-revenue series, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for the ACS homeowner median bill above.
ACS tenure & reporting signals · 2024
Mortgage tenure and zero-tax reporting in Illinois
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Illinois from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 5.2%
- With mortgage
- 2.2%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 1,324,567
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.96% in Hardin County to 2.58% in Lake County - a 1.62 percentage-point gap across 102 counties.
Appeal guide for when a parcel sits above its county median.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024), Table B25087 (mortgage status medians) and county tax_distribution aggregates (zero-tax reporting shares). Informational only, not tax or legal advice.
The average median property tax in Illinois is $5,298/year, which is 166% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 2.01% on a median home value of $263,300. Taxes range from $869 in Pulaski County to $8,923 (Lake County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Illinois
A rate compares places with different home values. The annual bill shows a typical dollar amount. County spread shows why neither is a parcel estimate.
The clearest local difference
The typical bill sits well above the national median
The statewide median property-tax bill is $5,298 a year, 166% above the $1,993 national median. The Census ACS estimate describes the median homeowner household rather than an individual parcel.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau. Individual bills can differ with assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making a decision.
State Average vs National Average
Median Annual Tax
$5,298
+166% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$263,300
+16% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
2.01%
+118% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Illinois
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Illinois's 2.01% rate is read against real neighbors such as New Jersey and Connecticut.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Illinois | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Also open New Jersey for county spread | 2.11% | New Jersey runs 0.10 pts above Illinois | $9,590 |
| Connecticut Also open Connecticut for county spread | 1.81% | Connecticut runs 0.20 pts below Illinois | $6,643 |
| New Hampshire Also open New Hampshire for county spread | 1.66% | New Hampshire runs 0.35 pts below Illinois | $6,667 |
| Vermont Also open Vermont for county spread | 1.59% | Vermont runs 0.42 pts below Illinois | $5,039 |
| New York Also open New York for county spread | 1.55% | New York runs 0.46 pts below Illinois | $6,582 |
| Nebraska Also open Nebraska for county spread | 1.49% | Nebraska runs 0.52 pts below Illinois | $3,549 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Illinois, excluding Illinois itself so the link neighborhoods are not self-referential. Median-bill peers exclude the effective-rate peer set so the two axes stay disjoint.
Similar effective rate
Nearest other states by ACS effective rate. Illinois: 2.01%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Illinois: $5,298/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Illinois sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Illinois sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
2.01% more affordable than 2% of 51 U.S. jurisdictions
Show national distribution
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024
Illinois has a higher effective property tax rate than 98% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #2 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: New Jersey (2.11%, 0.10 pts higher than Illinois); Connecticut (1.81%, 0.20 pts lower than Illinois); New Hampshire (1.66%, 0.35 pts lower than Illinois).
What Illinois's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Illinois counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 67% of the state's. ACS 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Counties ordered by owner-occupied housing units (B25003_002E), not by resident population.
Illinois's median county rate is 2.01%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Illinois homeowner faces is 2.03%, close to the plain median, so Illinois's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
1
Very Expensive
Based on the average effective tax rate of 2.01% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Illinois has above-average property tax rates, contributing to higher housing costs.
Very Expensive Very Affordable
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale from Illinois's 2.01% vs the national 0.92% - read beside New Jersey and Connecticut before treating the score as band-typical. A ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, at or above 2.0× scores 1, linear between. Census figures only, not a recommendation or endorsement.
Counties in Illinois by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward , showing the top 80 of 102 measured counties so the page stays crawlable. Gold/silver/bronze mark the top three list positions; effective rate is the focal comparison when home values differ.
| # | County | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake County | $8,923 | 2.58% | $345,700 |
| 2 | DuPage County | $8,007 | 2.05% | $391,400 |
| 3 | Kendall County | $7,651 | 2.37% | $322,400 |
| 4 | Kane County | $7,382 | 2.26% | $327,000 |
| 5 | McHenry County | $7,274 | 2.36% | $308,100 |
| 6 | Will County | $7,173 | 2.24% | $319,600 |
| 7 | Cook County | $6,191 | 1.91% | $324,500 |
| 8 | DeKalb County | $5,974 | 2.45% | $243,600 |
| 9 | Grundy County | $5,420 | 1.99% | $271,700 |
| 10 | Boone County | $4,735 | 2.18% | $216,900 |
| 11 | Monroe County | $4,588 | 1.63% | $282,100 |
| 12 | McLean County | $4,524 | 2.17% | $208,400 |
| 13 | Champaign County | $4,353 | 2.06% | $211,500 |
| 14 | Kankakee County | $4,266 | 2.21% | $192,600 |
| 15 | Woodford County | $4,215 | 2.13% | $197,600 |
| 16 | Winnebago County | $3,930 | 2.39% | $164,500 |
| 17 | Ogle County | $3,889 | 2.06% | $189,200 |
| 18 | St. Clair County | $3,665 | 2.03% | $180,300 |
| 19 | Jo Daviess County | $3,613 | 1.72% | $209,900 |
| 20 | Peoria County | $3,552 | 2.24% | $158,500 |
| 21 | Tazewell County | $3,536 | 2.11% | $167,500 |
| 22 | Clinton County | $3,524 | 1.83% | $192,400 |
| 23 | Sangamon County | $3,512 | 1.99% | $176,300 |
| 24 | Rock Island County | $3,425 | 2.28% | $150,400 |
| 25 | LaSalle County | $3,418 | 2.11% | $161,900 |
| 26 | Madison County | $3,319 | 1.92% | $173,000 |
| 27 | Piatt County | $3,265 | 1.81% | $180,600 |
| 28 | Stephenson County | $3,240 | 2.40% | $134,900 |
| 29 | Menard County | $3,190 | 1.72% | $185,500 |
| 30 | Lee County | $3,048 | 1.97% | $154,600 |
| 31 | Jersey County | $3,020 | 1.76% | $171,900 |
| 32 | Henry County | $3,016 | 1.99% | $151,600 |
| 33 | Livingston County | $2,908 | 2.05% | $142,200 |
| 34 | Washington County | $2,908 | 1.87% | $155,700 |
| 35 | Mercer County | $2,878 | 1.96% | $146,700 |
| 36 | Effingham County | $2,823 | 1.49% | $189,500 |
| 37 | Marshall County | $2,766 | 1.94% | $142,800 |
| 38 | Bond County | $2,747 | 1.89% | $145,700 |
| 39 | Putnam County | $2,705 | 1.57% | $172,700 |
| 40 | Macon County | $2,696 | 2.12% | $127,300 |
| 41 | Williamson County | $2,690 | 1.72% | $156,400 |
| 42 | Calhoun County | $2,644 | 1.39% | $190,900 |
| 43 | Whiteside County | $2,598 | 2.04% | $127,100 |
| 44 | Ford County | $2,587 | 2.12% | $122,000 |
| 45 | Adams County | $2,573 | 1.58% | $162,600 |
| 46 | Douglas County | $2,554 | 1.70% | $150,400 |
| 47 | Bureau County | $2,548 | 2.01% | $126,900 |
| 48 | Jackson County | $2,526 | 1.84% | $137,300 |
| 49 | Iroquois County | $2,504 | 1.82% | $137,800 |
| 50 | Coles County | $2,474 | 1.94% | $127,400 |
| 51 | Jasper County | $2,448 | 1.95% | $125,500 |
| 52 | Moultrie County | $2,414 | 1.80% | $134,000 |
| 53 | Logan County | $2,385 | 1.77% | $134,400 |
| 54 | De Witt County | $2,322 | 1.78% | $130,300 |
| 55 | Morgan County | $2,306 | 1.76% | $130,800 |
| 56 | Brown County | $2,291 | 1.52% | $150,300 |
| 57 | Fulton County | $2,289 | 2.14% | $107,200 |
| 58 | McDonough County | $2,285 | 2.13% | $107,500 |
| 59 | Carroll County | $2,277 | 1.99% | $114,500 |
| 60 | Knox County | $2,190 | 1.96% | $111,900 |
| 61 | Mason County | $2,162 | 2.09% | $103,400 |
| 62 | Jefferson County | $2,148 | 1.70% | $126,000 |
| 63 | Macoupin County | $2,073 | 1.50% | $138,200 |
| 64 | Clark County | $2,064 | 1.56% | $132,400 |
| 65 | Shelby County | $2,063 | 1.50% | $137,100 |
| 66 | Hancock County | $2,059 | 1.81% | $113,800 |
| 67 | Cumberland County | $2,004 | 1.59% | $126,000 |
| 68 | Johnson County | $1,992 | 1.24% | $160,500 |
| 69 | Cass County | $1,958 | 2.02% | $97,100 |
| 70 | Schuyler County | $1,950 | 1.78% | $109,700 |
| 71 | Randolph County | $1,927 | 1.43% | $135,100 |
| 72 | Warren County | $1,903 | 1.81% | $105,000 |
| 73 | Fayette County | $1,894 | 1.45% | $130,700 |
| 74 | Christian County | $1,891 | 1.64% | $115,500 |
| 75 | Montgomery County | $1,887 | 1.68% | $112,300 |
| 76 | Perry County | $1,807 | 1.60% | $112,600 |
| 77 | Crawford County | $1,806 | 1.49% | $121,100 |
| 78 | Richland County | $1,769 | 1.58% | $112,000 |
| 79 | Stark County | $1,768 | 1.69% | $104,500 |
| 80 | Marion County | $1,759 | 1.71% | $103,000 |
22 additional Illinois counties rank below this top-80 list in the same bill order. Open any county from the county directory or the Illinois calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Illinois compare to the national average? ▼
Illinois property taxes are 166% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $5,298 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Illinois? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Illinois is $5,298 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 2.01%.
Which county in Illinois has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Pulaski County has the lowest median property tax in Illinois at $869 per year with an effective rate of 1.02%. The highest is Lake County at $8,923.
How large is Illinois's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Illinois's state and local governments collected $38.3B in property tax - 5.3% of the U.S. total (#5 of 51). Spread across 3,378,910 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $11,338 per home - 2.1× the ACS median homeowner bill of $5,298. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Illinois? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $5,833/yr versus $4,463 for owners without a mortgage, a $1,370 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What is the median home value in Illinois? ▼
The median home value across Illinois is $263,300, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
What share of Illinois owners report paying no property tax? ▼
5.2% of owner-occupied homes in Illinois report zero property tax on the ACS survey (2.2% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
How are property taxes calculated? ▼
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
Can I appeal my property taxes in Illinois? ▼
Yes. Every Illinois homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.
What to do with Illinois's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Illinois's ACS 2024 median bill is $5,298/yr at 2.01% (166% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Illinois, Pulaski County posts the lowest median bill at $869/yr; Lake County is highest at $8,923/yr. Open Pulaski County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Illinois's published effective rate, or read the state's assessment and appeal path before treating the statewide median as your budget. State estimator
Statewide medians average across 102 counties; your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies set the real bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
Editorial standards and provenance
PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for Illinois. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.