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City · 39,460 residents · DuPage County, Illinois

Carol Stream , Illinois

In Carol Stream, a typical home is worth $335,000 and typical rent is $1,529 a month. Compared with all of DuPage County, the typical home value is 14% lower, typical rent is 9% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $335,000

    14% below the county

    27% above Illinois

    • Carol Stream
    • DuPage
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $1,529a month

    9% below the county

    20% above Illinois

    • Carol Stream
    • DuPage
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $102,309a year

    9% below the county

    23% above Illinois

    • Carol Stream
    • DuPage
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    6 points below the county

    About the same as Illinois

    • Carol Stream
    • DuPage
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$381,673
3.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,844 a month
3.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Carol Stream is in DuPage 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 DuPage County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Carol Stream apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Glendale Heights, the typical home value is $261,700: 22% less than in Carol Stream ($335,000).

  2. 67% of households in Carol Stream own their home, against 73% in DuPage County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Carol Stream

What homes there are in Carol Stream, 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

In Carol Stream there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (48%); in DuPage County, 58%.

Year built

Homes in Carol Stream are newer: the typical year built is 1984; in DuPage County, 1978.

There are fewer big homes in Carol Stream than in DuPage County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 94% of owner-occupied homes in Carol Stream are worth less than the FHA loan limit for DuPage County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,229 a month

DuPage County: $2,450 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,046 a month

DuPage County: $1,056 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

DuPage County: 65%

In Carol Stream, 67% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,229 a month, against $2,450 in DuPage County. Without one it drops to $1,046.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Carol Stream gained value faster than in DuPage County: 35% against 27%.

Much as in DuPage County, the typical rent in Carol Stream rose 28% since 2015–2019.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Carol Stream: typical income rose 25%, against +35% for home values and +28% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCarol StreamDuPage CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.6%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room 5.8%2.7%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.712.612.462.53
Drive alone 71%65%66%69%
Carpool 11%7%8%9%
Public transit 2%4%6%3%
Walk or bike 1%2%3%3%
Work from home 15%22%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Carol Stream, 5.8% of households live with more than one person per room, against 2.7% in DuPage County.

A household in Carol Stream has 2.71 people on average, about the same as in DuPage County (2.61).

In Carol Stream, 11% of workers share a car to get to work; in DuPage County, 7%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Carol Stream?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Carol Stream, worth $335,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Carol Stream, which is $102,309 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $136,306 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of DuPage County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Carol Stream. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $11,725 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,180

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$328,932
Total interest
$473,256
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,657 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,387 a month

  • Tight

    $2,387 to $3,069 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,069 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in Carol Stream ($102,309 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,180
Principal & interest$2,228
Property tax$664
Home insurance$140
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$148

You need at least $11,725 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Carol Stream and DuPage County

Carol Stream is in DuPage 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).

Carol Stream's own numbers

Typical home value
$335,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,529
Typical yearly household income
$102,309
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
2.38%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of DuPage 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)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.8%

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 DuPage County.

Everything about DuPage County

Buying

Buying a home in Carol Stream

A typical home in Carol Stream is worth $335,000: 14% below the county and 27% above Illinois. With the typical household income in Carol Stream ($102,309 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • Carol Stream 3.3 years
  • DuPage 3.5 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in DuPage County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in DuPage County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of DuPage County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.2% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +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

Carol Stream next to DuPage 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
  • Carol Stream $335,000
  • DuPage $391,400
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Carol Stream $1,529
  • DuPage $1,688
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Carol Stream $102,309
  • DuPage $112,096
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Carol Stream next to DuPage County and Illinois
Measure Carol Stream DuPage County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $335,000 $391,400 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,529 $1,688 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $102,309 $112,096 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 73% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $7,987 $8,007 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.38% 2.05% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 41% 45% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below DuPage 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 Carol Stream

For a typical $335,000 home in Carol Stream, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Carol Stream's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,180a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,725
    Cash to close
    $21,775
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $148

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,119a month

    Down payment
    $16,750
    Cash to close
    $26,800
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $159

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,620a month

    Down payment
    $67,000
    Cash to close
    $77,050
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,929a month

    Down payment
    $50,250
    Cash to close
    $60,300
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Carol Stream and for DuPage County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Carol Stream

2.38%of the home’s value each year

$7,987 a year for the typical owner in Carol Stream.

  • Carol Stream 2.38%
  • DuPage 2.05%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in DuPage County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of DuPage County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.8%
2,485
Of those, with NFIP insurance
41%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.8% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 41% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Carol Stream

Typical rent in Carol Stream is $1,529 a month: 9% below the county. In Carol Stream, 41% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of DuPage 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.

HUD fair market rent for all of DuPage County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

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 Carol Stream

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Carol Stream is in ZIP code 60188.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,030: $19 more than the fair market rent for DuPage County ($2,011).

  • 60188 $2,030$2,610

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Carol Stream 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Carol Stream

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Carol Stream. These are the largest.

  • Covered Bridges 637 Burns St, Carol Stream 60188 362 homes, 292 low-income · 1 bd: 143 · 2 bd: 190 · 3 bd: 29 · In service since 2007 · For families
  • Villagebrook Apts 278 E Saint Charles Rd, Carol Stream 60188 189 low-income homes · 1 bd: 56 · 2 bd: 115 · 3 bd: 18 · In service since 2005 · For families (630) 593-2855
  • Autumn Ridge Apartments 326 S President St, Carol Stream 60188 210 homes, 132 low-income · For families (630) 653-9393
  • Colony Park Apartments 550 Thornhill Dr, Carol Stream 60188 284 homes · For older adults (630) 682-9000

See all 38 buildings in DuPage County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Carol Stream

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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in DuPage County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Carol Stream

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Carol Stream or DuPage County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Carol Stream the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Carol Stream

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Carol Stream, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Dupage Homeownership Center, Inc. DBA H.o.m.e. Dupage, Inc.

    1600 E Roosevelt Rd, Wheaton · 5 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (630) 260-2500

  • North West Housing Partnership

    1701 E Woodfield Rd Ste 203, Schaumburg · 10 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 4 more
    (847) 969-0561

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois

    620 Wing St, Elgin · 12 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (815) 338-5757

Every agency in DuPage County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Carol Stream

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Carol Stream

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in DuPage County is named for Carol Stream or DuPage County.

One other authority has an office in DuPage County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in DuPage County

These cities are also in DuPage County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about DuPage County Housing in Illinois
See 16 more cities in DuPage County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Carol Stream, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If DuPage County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Carol Stream.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about Carol Stream

Short answers with the numbers for Carol Stream and all of DuPage 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 Carol Stream?

The typical home value in Carol Stream is $335,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in DuPage County it is $391,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Carol Stream?

Typical rent in Carol Stream is $1,529 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in DuPage County is $2,011.

What is the FHA loan limit in Carol Stream?

Carol Stream uses the FHA limit for all of DuPage 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 Carol Stream?

The typical homeowner in Carol Stream pays $7,987 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.38% of the home’s value; in DuPage County, the rate is 2.05%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Carol Stream?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in DuPage County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).