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City · 30,643 residents · Lake County, Illinois

North Chicago , Illinois

In North Chicago, a typical home is worth $159,600 and typical rent is $1,426 a month. Compared with all of Lake County, the typical home value is 54% lower, typical household income is 46% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 42 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $159,600

    54% below the county

    39% below Illinois

    • North Chicago
    • Lake
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $1,426a month

    3% below the county

    12% above Illinois

    • North Chicago
    • Lake
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $60,172a year

    46% below the county

    28% below Illinois

    • North Chicago
    • Lake
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    33%

    42 points below the county

    35 points below Illinois

    • North Chicago
    • Lake
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$223,901
8.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,822 a month

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

North Chicago is in Lake 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 Lake County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets North Chicago apart

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

  1. 33% of households in North Chicago own their home, against 75% in Lake County.

  2. The typical home in North Chicago is worth $159,600, 54% less than in Lake County as a whole ($345,700).

  3. The typical household income in North Chicago is $60,172, 46% less than in Lake County as a whole ($110,416).

  4. Nearby, in Park City, the typical rent is $1,110: 22% less than in North Chicago ($1,426).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in North Chicago rose 8.5%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in North Chicago

What homes there are in North Chicago, 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

No kind of home is the majority in North Chicago; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 38%, less than in Lake County (67%).

Year built

In North Chicago, half of the homes were built before 1973; in Lake County, before 1983.

Homes in North Chicago are smaller: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Lake County, 68%.

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

About 84% of rented homes in North Chicago cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Lake County ($2,011).

With a mortgage

$1,662 a month

Lake County: $2,503 a month

Without a mortgage

$679 a month

Lake County: $1,088 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Lake County: 64%

In North Chicago, 57% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,662 a month, against $2,503 in Lake County. Without one it drops to $679.

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 North Chicago rose 48%; in Lake County, it rose 30%.

The typical rent in North Chicago rose 20% over the same time; in Lake County, it rose 23%.

To compare: typical income in North Chicago rose 40%; the home, +48%; the rent, +20%.

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

MeasureNorth ChicagoLake CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.2%3.7%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room 6.4%2.9%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.712.692.462.53
Drive alone 41%66%66%69%
Carpool 9%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate3%6%3%
Walk or bike 23%2%3%3%
Work from home 26%20%16%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in North Chicago: 5.2% is empty and offered for rent, against 3.7% in Lake County.

In North Chicago, 6.4% of households live with more than one person per room, against 2.9% in Lake County.

Much as in Lake County, a household in North Chicago has 2.71 people on average.

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 23%, more than in Lake County (2%).

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 North Chicago?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in North Chicago, worth $159,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in North Chicago, which is $60,172 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $65,566 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in North Chicago. 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 $5,586 (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

$1,530

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$156,709
Total interest
$225,468
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,695 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,404 a month

  • Tight

    $1,404 to $1,805 a month

    Your payment · 31%

  • Hard

    more than $1,805 a month

Compared with the typical household income in North Chicago ($60,172 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,530
Principal & interest$1,062
Property tax$331
Home insurance$67
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$71

You need at least $5,586 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

North Chicago and Lake County

North Chicago is in Lake 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).

North Chicago's own numbers

Typical home value
$159,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,426
Typical yearly household income
$60,172
Households that own their home
33%
Effective property tax rate
2.49%

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

Numbers for all of Lake 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)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2%

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 Lake County.

Everything about Lake County

Buying

Buying a home in North Chicago

A typical home in North Chicago is worth $159,600: 54% below the county and 39% below Illinois. With the typical household income in North Chicago ($60,172 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 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.

  • North Chicago 2.7 years
  • Lake 3.1 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lake County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lake County rose 66% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.7% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +66% +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

North Chicago next to Lake 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
  • North Chicago $159,600
  • Lake $345,700
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • North Chicago $1,426
  • Lake $1,477
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • North Chicago $60,172
  • Lake $110,416
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
North Chicago next to Lake County and Illinois
Measure North Chicago Lake County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $159,600 $345,700 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,426 $1,477 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $60,172 $110,416 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 33% 75% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,969 $8,923 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.49% 2.58% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 49% 48% 51%

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

For a typical $159,600 home in North Chicago, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, North Chicago's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,530a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,586
    Cash to close
    $10,374
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $71

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,501a month

    Down payment
    $7,980
    Cash to close
    $12,768
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $76

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,263a month

    Down payment
    $31,920
    Cash to close
    $36,708
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,410a month

    Down payment
    $23,940
    Cash to close
    $28,728
    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 North Chicago and for Lake County.

Property tax

Effective rate in North Chicago

2.49%of the home’s value each year

$3,969 a year for the typical owner in North Chicago.

  • North Chicago 2.49%
  • Lake 2.58%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Lake County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
2%
4,579
Of those, with NFIP insurance
24%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 24% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in North Chicago

Typical rent in North Chicago is $1,426 a month: 3% below the county. In North Chicago, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lake 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 Lake 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 North Chicago

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). North Chicago has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,600 in 60064 to $2,550 in 60088.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Lake County ($2,011).

  • 60064 $1,600$2,060
  • 60088 $2,550$3,280

A ZIP code counts for North Chicago 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 North Chicago

HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in North Chicago. These are the largest.

  • Prairie View Apts (north Chicago) 1 Prairie View Ct, North Chicago 60064 224 homes, 219 low-income · 1 bd: 51 · 2 bd: 125 · 3 bd: 45 · 4 bd: 1 · In service since 2006 · For families (847) 689-1222
  • North Chgo HSG Auth 1440 Jackson St, North Chicago 60064 150 homes, 149 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of North Chicago, IL · Average payment: $353 a month · Average wait: 18 months · Homes at several sites (847) 223-1170
  • Manchester Knolls Coop 1700 Barrett Ct, North Chicago 60064 180 homes, 36 low-income · For families (847) 689-8855
  • Palermo Manor 2403 24th St, North Chicago 60064 4 low-income homes · 2 bd: 2 · 3 bd: 2 · In service since 1994
  • 1933 Dickey Avenue 1933 Dickey Ave, North Chicago 60064 1 low-income home · 3 bd: 1 · In service since 1989

See all 67 buildings in Lake County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in North Chicago

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 Lake County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in North Chicago

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

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

  • Community Partners for Affordable Housing

    800 S Milwaukee Ave Ste 201, Libertyville · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (847) 263-7478

  • Lake County Housing Authority

    22843 N Lakewood Ln, Lake Zurich · 13 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (847) 223-1170

  • Hana Center-Prospect Heights

    664 N Milwaukee Ave Ste 213, Prospect Heights · 15 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Korean.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (847) 520-1999

Every agency in Lake County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near North Chicago

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 North Chicago

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of North Chicago, IL Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (847) 223-1170
  • Housing Authority of the County of Lake, IL. Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (847) 223-1170

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

Cities

Other cities in Lake County

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

Everything about Lake County Housing in Illinois
See 20 more cities in Lake County, with prices and rents

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

Nearby cities

The cities closest to North Chicago, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lake 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 North Chicago.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about North Chicago

Short answers with the numbers for North Chicago and all of Lake 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 North Chicago?

The typical home value in North Chicago is $159,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lake County it is $345,700.

How much does it cost to rent in North Chicago?

Typical rent in North Chicago is $1,426 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lake County is $2,011.

What is the FHA loan limit in North Chicago?

North Chicago uses the FHA limit for all of Lake 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 North Chicago?

The typical homeowner in North Chicago pays $3,969 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.49% of the home’s value; in Lake County, the rate is 2.58%.

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

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