In Monticello, a typical home is worth $210,500 and typical rent is $1,379 a month. Compared with all of Piatt County, typical rent is 32% higher and the typical home value is 17% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $228,226 to $289,594.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Monticello is in Piatt 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 Piatt County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Clinton, the typical home value is $102,800: 51% less than in Monticello ($210,500).
2
Nearby, in Clinton, the typical rent is $934: 32% less than in Monticello ($1,379).
3
The typical rent in Monticello is $1,379 a month, 32% more than in Piatt County as a whole ($1,046).
4
The typical home in Monticello is worth $210,500,17% more than in Piatt County as a whole ($180,600).
5
Monticello has the 25th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 291 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people (35%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Monticello
What homes there are in Monticello, 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
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Kind of home: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Detached house
81%
87%
58%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
4%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
5%
12%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Monticello (81%), but less so than in Piatt County (87%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Year built: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Before 1960
23%
33%
38%
26%
1960–1979
31%
30%
26%
24%
1980–1999
25%
19%
20%
25%
2000–2009
13%
11%
11%
14%
2010 or later
9%
6%
6%
11%
The typical home in Monticello was built in 1978, 5 years after the typical one in Piatt County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K42%
$200K–$300K29%
$300K–$500K25%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
42%
$200K–$300K
29%
$300K–$500K
25%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$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: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
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 estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,710 a month
Piatt County: $1,527 a month
Without a mortgage
$690 a month
Piatt County: $647 a month
Owners with a mortgage
66%
Piatt County: 59%
In Monticello, 66% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,710 a month, against $1,527 in Piatt County. Without one it drops to $690.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Monticello+29%
Piatt County+30%
Illinois+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Monticello+42%
Piatt County+23%
Illinois+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Monticello+32%
Piatt County+34%
Illinois+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Typical home value
+29%
+30%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+42%
+23%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+32%
+34%
+27%
+29%
The typical home value in Monticello rose 29% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Piatt County (30%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Monticello rose 42%, more than in Piatt County (23%).
To compare: typical income in Monticello rose 32%; the home, +29%; the rent, +42%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Monticello and its comparisons
Measure
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.31
2.39
2.46
2.53
Drive alone
91%
85%
66%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
6%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
6%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
7%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Piatt County, a household in Monticello has 2.31 people on average.
To get to work, 91% of workers in Monticello drive alone; in Piatt County, 85%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Monticello?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Monticello, worth $210,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Monticello, which is $99,449 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Piatt 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 Monticello. 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 $7,368 (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
$1,890
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$206,687
Total interest
$297,374
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,555 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,320 a month
Your payment · 23%
Tight
$2,320 to $2,983 a month
Hard
more than $2,983 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Monticello ($99,449 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,400
Property tax
$309
Home insurance
$88
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$93
You need at least $7,368 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 $1,890; principal and interest $1,400.
The city and its county
Monticello and Piatt County
Monticello is in Piatt 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).
Monticello
Map of Piatt County, Illinois, with Monticello marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Monticello
Piatt County
Other cities with a page
Monticello's own numbers
Typical home value
$210,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,379
Typical yearly household income
$99,449
Households that own their home
83%
Effective property tax rate
1.76%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Piatt County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,173
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.4%
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 Piatt County.
A typical home in Monticello is worth $210,500: 17% above the county and 20% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Monticello ($99,449 a year), a typical home costs 2.1 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.
Monticello2.1 years
Piatt1.9 years
Illinois3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Piatt County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Piatt County rose 55% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Piatt County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Piatt County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +1.2% +1.2% 2016
2017: +2.5% +2.5% 2017
2018: +0.3% +0.3% 2018
2019: +3.6% +3.6% 2019
2020: +1.2% +1.2% 2020
2021: +8.1% +8.1% 2021
2022: +8.3% +8.3% 2022
2023: +7.2% +7.2% 2023
2024: +12.0% +12.0% 2024
2025: +1.2% +1.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Piatt County, Illinois and the United States
Period
County
Illinois
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.2%
+5.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+55%
+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
Monticello next to Piatt 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
Monticello$210,500
Piatt$180,600
Illinois$263,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Monticello$1,379
Piatt$1,046
Illinois$1,274
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Monticello$99,449
Piatt$94,811
Illinois$83,390
United States$80,734
See the full table
Monticello next to Piatt County and Illinois
Measure
Monticello
Piatt County
Illinois
U.S.
Typical home value
$210,500 ▲17% above the county
$180,600
$263,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,379 ▲32% above the county
$1,046
$1,274
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$99,449 ▲5% above the county
$94,811
$83,390
$80,734
Households that own their home
83% ▼2 points below the county
85%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,709 ▲14% above the county
$3,265
$5,298
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.76% ▼0.05 points below the county
1.81%
2.01%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
35% ▲4 points above the county
31%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Piatt 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 Monticello
For a typical $210,500 home in Monticello, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Monticello's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,890a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,368
Cash to close
$13,683
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $93
Conventional, 5% down$1,851a month
Down payment
$10,525
Cash to close
$16,840
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $100
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,537a month
Down payment
$42,100
Cash to close
$48,415
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,732a month
Down payment
$31,575
Cash to close
$37,890
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Monticello
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,890
$7,368
$206,687
7.18%
FHA MIP · $93
$13,683
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,851
$10,525
$199,975
7.18%
PMI · $100
$16,840
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,537
$42,100
$168,400
7.18%
None
$48,415
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,732
$31,575
$178,925
8.18%
None
$37,890
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 Monticello is $1,379 a month: 32% above the county. In Monticello, 35% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Piatt County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,173 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.56 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 Piatt County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$983
$18.90
$39,320
1 bedroom
$996
$19.15
$39,840
2 bedrooms
$1,173
$22.56
$46,920
3 bedrooms
$1,474
$28.35
$58,960
4 bedrooms
$1,542
$29.65
$61,680
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 Monticello
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Monticello is in ZIP code 61856.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,270: $97 more than the fair market rent for Piatt County ($1,173).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Monticello, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
61856
$1,060
$1,080
$1,270
$1,600
$1,670
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
61856 $1,270$1,600
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Monticello 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.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Piatt County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Monticello or Piatt County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Monticello 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 Monticello or Piatt 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 Monticello and all of Piatt 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 Monticello?
The typical home value in Monticello is $210,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Piatt County it is $180,600.
How much does it cost to rent in Monticello?
Typical rent in Monticello is $1,379 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Piatt County is $1,173.
What is the FHA loan limit in Monticello?
Monticello uses the FHA limit for all of Piatt 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 Monticello?
The typical homeowner in Monticello pays $3,709 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.76% of the home’s value; in Piatt County, the rate is 1.81%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Monticello?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Piatt County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
