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City · 12,342 residents · Effingham County, Illinois

Effingham , Illinois

In Effingham, a typical home is worth $177,500 and typical rent is $725 a month. Compared with all of Effingham County, typical household income is 10% lower, the typical home value is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $177,500

    6% below the county

    33% below Illinois

    • Effingham
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $725a month

    About the same as the county

    43% below Illinois

    • Effingham
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $72,377a year

    10% below the county

    13% below Illinois

    • Effingham
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    66%

    12 points below the county

    1 points below Illinois

    • Effingham
    • County
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$235,050
2.9% more than 12 months ago

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

Effingham is in Effingham 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 Effingham County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Effingham apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Pana, the typical home value is $77,900: 56% less than in Effingham ($177,500).

  2. Effingham has the 10th lowest typical rent of the 331 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($725).

  3. Effingham has the 13th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 291 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people (34%).

  4. 66% of households in Effingham own their home, against 78% in Effingham County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Effingham

What homes there are in Effingham, 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 houses are the majority in Effingham (69%), but less so than in Effingham County (79%).

Year built

In Effingham, half of the homes were built before 1974; in Effingham County, before 1978.

Homes in Effingham are smaller: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Effingham County, 67%.

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

At least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Effingham are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Effingham County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Effingham cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($930): about 70%.

With a mortgage

$1,381 a month

Effingham County: $1,427 a month

Without a mortgage

$622 a month

Effingham County: $616 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Effingham County: 53%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Effingham is $1,381 a month, near the figure in Effingham County ($1,427).

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 Effingham gained value faster than in Effingham County: 40% against 32%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Effingham rose 21%, more than in Effingham County (13%).

The typical household income in Effingham rose 52%: more than home values (+40%) and rent (+21%).

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

MeasureEffinghamEffingham CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.1%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.202.442.462.53
Drive alone 79%80%66%69%
Carpool 6%6%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 13%12%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Effingham are smaller: 2.20 people on average; in Effingham County, 2.44.

In Effingham, 79% of workers drive alone to work; in Effingham County, 80%.

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 Effingham?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Effingham, worth $177,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 26% of the typical household income in Effingham, which is $72,377 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Effingham. 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 $6,213 (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

$1,573

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$174,285
Total interest
$250,755
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,998 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,689 a month

    Your payment · 26%

  • Tight

    $1,689 to $2,171 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,171 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Effingham ($72,377 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,573
Principal & interest$1,181
Property tax$240
Home insurance$74
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$79

You need at least $6,213 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

Effingham and Effingham County

Effingham is in Effingham 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).

Effingham's own numbers

Typical home value
$177,500
Typical monthly rent
$725
Typical yearly household income
$72,377
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
1.62%

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

Numbers for all of Effingham County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$930
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%

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 Effingham County.

Everything about Effingham County

Buying

Buying a home in Effingham

A typical home in Effingham is worth $177,500: 6% below the county and 33% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Effingham ($72,377 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 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.

  • Effingham 2.5 years
  • County 2.4 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Effingham County

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

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +8.1% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +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

Effingham next to Effingham 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
  • Effingham $177,500
  • County $189,500
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Effingham $725
  • County $733
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Effingham $72,377
  • County $80,404
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Effingham next to Effingham County and Illinois
Measure Effingham Effingham County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $177,500 $189,500 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $725 $733 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $72,377 $80,404 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 66% 78% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,879 $2,823 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.62% 1.49% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 34% 33% 48% 51%

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

For a typical $177,500 home in Effingham, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Effingham's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,573a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,213
    Cash to close
    $11,538
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $79

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,540a month

    Down payment
    $8,875
    Cash to close
    $14,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $84

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,276a month

    Down payment
    $35,500
    Cash to close
    $40,825
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,440a month

    Down payment
    $26,625
    Cash to close
    $31,950
    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 Effingham and for Effingham County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Effingham

1.62%of the home’s value each year

$2,879 a year for the typical owner in Effingham.

  • Effingham 1.62%
  • County 1.49%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Effingham County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Effingham County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Effingham

Typical rent in Effingham is $725 a month: about the same as the county. In Effingham, 34% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Effingham County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($930 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $17.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Effingham 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 $764 $14.69 $30,560
1 bedroom $792 $15.23 $31,680
2 bedrooms $930 $17.88 $37,200
3 bedrooms $1,231 $23.67 $49,240
4 bedrooms $1,434 $27.58 $57,360

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 Effingham

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Effingham is in ZIP code 62401.

For 2 bedrooms it is $930: the same as the fair market rent for Effingham County.

  • 62401 $930$1,230

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Effingham 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 Effingham

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Effingham. These are the largest.

  • Lake Pointe Apartments 1706 Ford Ave, Effingham 62401 120 low-income homes · For families (217) 347-5514
  • Slate Creek Apartments 2301 S Veterans Dr, Effingham 62401 113 low-income homes · For older adults (217) 347-5616
  • Effingham County Housing Authority 215 N Banker St, Effingham 62401 104 homes, 103 low-income · Run by Effingham County Housing Authority · Average payment: $500 a month · Average wait: 6 months (217) 342-3520
  • Effingham Ministries 512 E Hendelmeyer Ave, Effingham 62401 92 low-income homes · For families (217) 347-0415
  • Burton-Devore Apartments 610 N Henrietta St, Effingham 62401 44 low-income homes · For families (217) 342-3520

See all 8 buildings in Effingham County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Effingham

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 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Effingham County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Effingham

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Effingham or Effingham County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Effingham 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 Effingham

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

  • C.e.f.s. Effingham County Outreach Office

    1010 W Jefferson Ave, Effingham · 0 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (217) 347-7514

  • C.e.f.s. Economic Opportunity Corporation

    1805 S Banker St, Effingham · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (217) 342-2193

  • Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc.

    400 W Pleasant St, Greenup · 22 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (217) 923-3113

Every agency in Effingham County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Effingham

None 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 Effingham

HUD’s record names them for Effingham or Effingham County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Effingham, with the typical home value.

Everything about Effingham County Housing in Illinois

Neighboring counties

If Effingham 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 Effingham.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Effingham

Short answers with the numbers for Effingham and all of Effingham 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 Effingham?

The typical home value in Effingham is $177,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Effingham County it is $189,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Effingham?

Typical rent in Effingham is $725 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Effingham County is $930.

What is the FHA loan limit in Effingham?

Effingham uses the FHA limit for all of Effingham 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 Effingham?

The typical homeowner in Effingham pays $2,879 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.62% of the home’s value; in Effingham County, the rate is 1.49%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Effingham County. 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).