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City · 23,505 residents · Stephenson County, Illinois

Freeport , Illinois

In Freeport, a typical home is worth $92,100 and typical rent is $793 a month. Compared with all of Stephenson County, the typical home value is 32% lower, typical household income is 19% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $92,100

    32% below the county

    65% below Illinois

    • Freeport
    • Stephenson
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $793a month

    About the same as the county

    38% below Illinois

    • Freeport
    • Stephenson
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $51,723a year

    19% below the county

    38% below Illinois

    • Freeport
    • Stephenson
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    12 points below the county

    8 points below Illinois

    • Freeport
    • Stephenson
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$128,352
6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$926 a month

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

Freeport is in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Freeport apart

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

  1. The typical home in Freeport is worth $92,100, 32% less than in Stephenson County as a whole ($134,900).

  2. 59% of households in Freeport own their home, against 71% in Stephenson County.

  3. The typical household income in Freeport is $51,723, 19% less than in Stephenson County as a whole ($64,043).

  4. Freeport has the 29th lowest typical rent of the 331 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($793).

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

The homes here

Housing in Freeport

What homes there are in Freeport, 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 Freeport (65%), but less so than in Stephenson County (76%).

Year built

By age, homes in Freeport look like those in Stephenson County: the typical year built is 1957.

There are fewer big homes in Freeport than in Stephenson County: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62%.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($930), about 64% of rented homes in Freeport cost less.

With a mortgage

$1,165 a month

Stephenson County: $1,312 a month

Without a mortgage

$566 a month

Stephenson County: $603 a month

Owners with a mortgage

50%

Stephenson County: 50%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Freeport is $1,165 a month, less than in Stephenson County ($1,312); without one, $566.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Freeport rose 28%; in Stephenson County, it rose 38%.

Rents in Freeport rose at about the same pace as in Stephenson County: 21% since 2015–2019, against 23%.

While home values in Freeport changed +28% and rent +21%, the typical household income rose 29%.

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

MeasureFreeportStephenson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.1%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.102.222.462.53
Drive alone 74%78%66%69%
Carpool 10%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%3%3%
Work from home 10%10%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.10 on average, against 2.22 in Stephenson County.

In Freeport, 74% of workers drive alone to work; in Stephenson County, 78%.

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 Freeport?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Freeport, worth $92,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 21% of the typical household income in Freeport, which is $51,723 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Freeport. 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 $3,224 (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

$893

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$90,431
Total interest
$130,109
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,555 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,207 a month

    Your payment · 21%

  • Tight

    $1,207 to $1,552 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,552 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Freeport ($51,723 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$893
Principal & interest$613
Property tax$201
Home insurance$38
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$41

You need at least $3,224 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

Freeport and Stephenson County

Freeport is in Stephenson 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).

Freeport's own numbers

Typical home value
$92,100
Typical monthly rent
$793
Typical yearly household income
$51,723
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
2.62%

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

Numbers for all of Stephenson 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)
+57%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

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 Stephenson County.

Everything about Stephenson County

Buying

Buying a home in Freeport

A typical home in Freeport is worth $92,100: 32% below the county and 65% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Freeport ($51,723 a year), a typical home costs 1.8 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.

  • Freeport 1.8 years
  • Stephenson 2.1 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Stephenson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Stephenson County rose 81% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +12.4% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +57% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +81% +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

Freeport next to Stephenson 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
  • Freeport $92,100
  • Stephenson $134,900
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Freeport $793
  • Stephenson $798
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Freeport $51,723
  • Stephenson $64,043
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Freeport next to Stephenson County and Illinois
Measure Freeport Stephenson County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $92,100 $134,900 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $793 $798 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,723 $64,043 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 71% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,411 $3,240 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.62% 2.4% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 45% 43% 48% 51%

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

For a typical $92,100 home in Freeport, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Freeport's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $893a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,224
    Cash to close
    $5,987
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $41

  • Conventional, 5% down $876a month

    Down payment
    $4,605
    Cash to close
    $7,368
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $44

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $739a month

    Down payment
    $18,420
    Cash to close
    $21,183
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $824a month

    Down payment
    $13,815
    Cash to close
    $16,578
    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 Freeport and for Stephenson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Freeport

2.62%of the home’s value each year

$2,411 a year for the typical owner in Freeport.

  • Freeport 2.62%
  • Stephenson 2.4%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Stephenson County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
308
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.4%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.4% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Freeport

Typical rent in Freeport is $793 a month: about the same as the county. In Freeport, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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 $648 $12.46 $25,920
1 bedroom $711 $13.67 $28,440
2 bedrooms $930 $17.88 $37,200
3 bedrooms $1,179 $22.67 $47,160
4 bedrooms $1,458 $28.04 $58,320

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 Freeport

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Freeport is in ZIP code 61032.

For 2 bedrooms it is $940: $10 more than the fair market rent for Stephenson County ($930).

  • 61032 $940$1,190

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

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Freeport. These are the largest.

  • Parkside Westview Home 634 N Waddell Ave, Freeport 61032 182 homes, 178 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Freeport · Average payment: $313 a month · Average wait: 33 months (815) 232-4171
  • Westport Village Apartments 26 N Greenfield Drive, Freeport 61032 112 low-income homes · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 45 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 11 · In service since 2019
  • Lincoln Towers & Freeport 320 N Harlem Ave, Freeport 61032 101 homes, 100 low-income · 1 bd: 100 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (815) 968-7777
  • Willow Park Apts 300 N Park Blvd, Freeport 61032 74 low-income homes · For older adults (815) 235-6060
  • Heritage Woods of Freeport 1500 S Forest Rd, Freeport 61032 76 homes, 61 low-income · Studio: 37 · 1 bd: 39 · In service since 2013

See all 10 buildings in Stephenson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Freeport

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Stephenson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Freeport

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

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

  • Region 1 Planning Council

    127 N Wyman St, Rockford · 28 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (815) 319-4462

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois

    13707 W Jackson St, Woodstock · 60 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (815) 338-5757

  • Restoration America, Inc.

    101 N Main St Ste 14, Crystal Lake · 67 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (847) 783-0232

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Freeport

3 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 Freeport

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Freeport Public housing (815) 232-4171

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Stephenson County Housing in Illinois

Neighboring counties

If Stephenson 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 Freeport.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Freeport

Short answers with the numbers for Freeport and all of Stephenson 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 Freeport?

The typical home value in Freeport is $92,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Stephenson County it is $134,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Freeport?

Typical rent in Freeport is $793 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Stephenson County is $930.

What is the FHA loan limit in Freeport?

Freeport uses the FHA limit for all of Stephenson 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 Freeport?

The typical homeowner in Freeport pays $2,411 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.62% of the home’s value; in Stephenson County, the rate is 2.4%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Stephenson County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).