In Berkeley, a typical home is worth $246,900 and typical rent is $1,434 a month. Compared with all of Cook County, the typical home value is 24% lower and the share of households that own their home is 24 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $230,488 to $305,108.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Berkeley is in Cook County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cook County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
82% of households in Berkeley own their home, against 58% in Cook County.
2
Nearby, in Northlake, the typical rent is $1,123: 22% less than in Berkeley ($1,434).
3
The typical home in Berkeley is worth $246,900,24% less than in Cook County as a whole ($324,500).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Berkeley
What homes there are in Berkeley, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Kind of home: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Detached house
82%
40%
58%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
6%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
19%
12%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
35%
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
The detached house rules in Berkeley: 82% of homes, more than in Cook County (40%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Year built: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Before 1960
68%
49%
38%
26%
1960–1979
31%
25%
26%
24%
1980–1999
Unreliable estimate
14%
20%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
8%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
11%
In Berkeley, half of the homes were built before 1955; in Cook County, before 1961.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K55%
$300K–$500K18%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
55%
$300K–$500K
18%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Under $500
Unreliable
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$2,112 a month
Cook County: $2,270 a month
Without a mortgage
$794 a month
Cook County: $910 a month
Owners with a mortgage
74%
Cook County: 62%
In Berkeley, 74% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,112 a month, against $2,270 in Cook County. Without one it drops to $794.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Berkeley+38%
Cook County+32%
Illinois+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Berkeley+52%
Cook County+28%
Illinois+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Berkeley+34%
Cook County+29%
Illinois+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Typical home value
+38%
+32%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+52%
+28%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+34%
+29%
+27%
+29%
The typical home value in Berkeley rose 38% since 2015–2019, more than in Cook County (32%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Berkeley rose 52%, more than in Cook County (28%).
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Berkeley: typical income rose 34%, against +38% for home values and +52% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Berkeley and its comparisons
Measure
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.3%
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.88
2.43
2.46
2.53
Drive alone
72%
55%
66%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
12%
6%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
5%
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
19%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More people live in each home here: 2.88 on average, against 2.43 in Cook County.
In Berkeley, 72% of workers drive alone to work; in Cook County, 55%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Berkeley?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Berkeley, worth $246,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Berkeley, which is $85,823 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $101,694 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cook County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Berkeley. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,642 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,373
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$242,428
Total interest
$348,796
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,170 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,003 a month
Tight
$2,003 to $2,575 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $2,575 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Berkeley ($85,823 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,642
Property tax
$519
Home insurance
$103
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$109
You need at least $8,642 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,373; principal and interest $1,642.
The city and its county
Berkeley and Cook County
Berkeley is in Cook County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Map of Cook County, Illinois, with Berkeley marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Cook County
Berkeley's own numbers
Typical home value
$246,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,434
Typical yearly household income
$85,823
Households that own their home
82%
Effective property tax rate
2.52%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cook County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,011
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cook County.
A typical home in Berkeley is worth $246,900: 24% below the county and 6% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Berkeley ($85,823 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Berkeley2.9 years
Cook3.9 years
Illinois3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cook County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cook County rose 61% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cook County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.9% +3.9% 2016
2017: +3.2% +3.2% 2017
2018: +2.5% +2.5% 2018
2019: +2.7% +2.7% 2019
2020: +0.9% +0.9% 2020
2021: +7.2% +7.2% 2021
2022: +11.3% +11.3% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +6.4% +6.4% 2024
2025: +5.5% +5.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, Illinois and the United States
Period
County
Illinois
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.5%
+5.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+61%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Berkeley next to Cook County, Illinois and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Berkeley$246,900
Cook$324,500
Illinois$263,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Berkeley$1,434
Cook$1,435
Illinois$1,274
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Berkeley$85,823
Cook$83,498
Illinois$83,390
United States$80,734
See the full table
Berkeley next to Cook County and Illinois
Measure
Berkeley
Cook County
Illinois
U.S.
Typical home value
$246,900 ▼24% below the county
$324,500
$263,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,434
$1,435
$1,274
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$85,823 ▲3% above the county
$83,498
$83,390
$80,734
Households that own their home
82% ▲24 points above the county
58%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$6,224
$6,191
$5,298
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.52% ▲0.61 points above the county
1.91%
2.01%
0.94%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cook County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Berkeley
For a typical $246,900 home in Berkeley, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Berkeley's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,373a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,642
Cash to close
$16,049
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $109
Conventional, 5% down$2,328a month
Down payment
$12,345
Cash to close
$19,752
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $117
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,959a month
Down payment
$49,380
Cash to close
$56,787
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,188a month
Down payment
$37,035
Cash to close
$44,442
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Berkeley
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,373
$8,642
$242,428
7.18%
FHA MIP · $109
$16,049
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,328
$12,345
$234,555
7.18%
PMI · $117
$19,752
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,959
$49,380
$197,520
7.18%
None
$56,787
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,188
$37,035
$209,865
8.18%
None
$44,442
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Berkeley is $1,434 a month: about the same as the county.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cook County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,011 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $38.67 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Cook County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,678
$32.27
$67,120
1 bedroom
$1,780
$34.23
$71,200
2 bedrooms
$2,011
$38.67
$80,440
3 bedrooms
$2,586
$49.73
$103,440
4 bedrooms
$2,954
$56.81
$118,160
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Berkeley
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Berkeley has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,570 in 60164 to $1,720 in 60163.
None is above the fair market rent for Cook County ($2,011).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Berkeley, fiscal year 2027.
60163
$1,440
$1,520
$1,720
$2,210
$2,530
60164
$1,310
$1,390
$1,570
$2,020
$2,310
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
60163 $1,720$2,210
60164 $1,570$2,020
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Berkeley when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 42 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cook County; 19 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Berkeley or Cook County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Berkeley the same as in the rest of the state.
IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois.Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Berkeley or Cook County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Berkeley and all of Cook County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Berkeley?
The typical home value in Berkeley is $246,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cook County it is $324,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Berkeley?
Typical rent in Berkeley is $1,434 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cook County is $2,011.
What is the FHA loan limit in Berkeley?
Berkeley uses the FHA limit for all of Cook County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Berkeley?
The typical homeowner in Berkeley pays $6,224 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.52% of the home’s value; in Cook County, the rate is 1.91%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Berkeley?
There are 42 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cook County. 19 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
