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City · 31,781 residents · Tazewell County, Illinois

Pekin , Illinois

In Pekin, a typical home is worth $120,700 and typical rent is $819 a month. Compared with all of Tazewell County, the typical home value is 28% lower, typical household income is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $120,700

    28% below the county

    54% below Illinois

    • Pekin
    • Tazewell
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $819a month

    10% below the county

    36% below Illinois

    • Pekin
    • Tazewell
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $60,790a year

    22% below the county

    27% below Illinois

    • Pekin
    • Tazewell
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    68%

    10 points below the county

    1 points above Illinois

    • Pekin
    • Tazewell
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$142,409
6.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$901 a month

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

Pekin is in Tazewell 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 Tazewell County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Pekin apart

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

  1. The typical home in Pekin is worth $120,700, 28% less than in Tazewell County as a whole ($167,500).

  2. The typical household income in Pekin is $60,790, 22% less than in Tazewell County as a whole ($77,982).

  3. 68% of households in Pekin own their home, against 78% in Tazewell County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Pekin

What homes there are in Pekin, 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 Pekin (72%), but less so than in Tazewell County (81%).

Year built

In Pekin, half of the homes were built before 1961; in Tazewell County, before 1969.

There are fewer big homes in Pekin than in Tazewell County: 48% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65%.

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

The FHA limit for Tazewell County is high ($541,287): at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Pekin are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 80% of rented homes in Pekin cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Tazewell County ($1,212).

With a mortgage

$1,163 a month

Tazewell County: $1,455 a month

Without a mortgage

$589 a month

Tazewell County: $670 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Tazewell County: 59%

In Pekin, 64% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,163 a month, against $1,455 in Tazewell County. Without one it drops to $589.

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

Homes in Pekin gained value more slowly than in Tazewell County: 14% since 2015–2019, against 18%.

Rents in Pekin rose at about the same pace as in Tazewell County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 23%.

The typical household income in Pekin rose 19% over that time; home values changed +14% and rent +24%.

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

MeasurePekinTazewell CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.5%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate0.9%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.212.352.462.53
Drive alone 81%80%66%69%
Carpool 9%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%6%3%
Walk or bike 1%2%3%3%
Work from home 7%11%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Pekin has 2.21 people, fewer than in Tazewell County (2.35).

To get to work, 81% of workers in Pekin drive alone; in Tazewell 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 Pekin?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Pekin, worth $120,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 22% of the typical household income in Pekin, which is $60,790 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Pekin. 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 $4,225 (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

$1,117

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$118,513
Total interest
$170,513
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,038 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,418 a month

    Your payment · 22%

  • Tight

    $1,418 to $1,824 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,824 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Pekin ($60,790 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,117
Principal & interest$803
Property tax$210
Home insurance$50
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$53

You need at least $4,225 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

Pekin and Tazewell County

Pekin is in Tazewell 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).

Pekin's own numbers

Typical home value
$120,700
Typical monthly rent
$819
Typical yearly household income
$60,790
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
2.09%

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

Numbers for all of Tazewell County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,212
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%

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 Tazewell County.

Everything about Tazewell County

Buying

Buying a home in Pekin

A typical home in Pekin is worth $120,700: 28% below the county and 54% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Pekin ($60,790 a year), a typical home costs 2.0 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.

  • Pekin 2.0 years
  • Tazewell 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 Tazewell County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Tazewell County rose 45% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.7% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +42% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +45% +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

Pekin next to Tazewell 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
  • Pekin $120,700
  • Tazewell $167,500
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Pekin $819
  • Tazewell $909
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Pekin $60,790
  • Tazewell $77,982
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Pekin next to Tazewell County and Illinois
Measure Pekin Tazewell County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $120,700 $167,500 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $819 $909 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $60,790 $77,982 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 68% 78% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,521 $3,536 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.09% 2.11% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 38% 43% 48% 51%

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

For a typical $120,700 home in Pekin, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Pekin's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,117a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,225
    Cash to close
    $7,846
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $53

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,095a month

    Down payment
    $6,035
    Cash to close
    $9,656
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $57

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $915a month

    Down payment
    $24,140
    Cash to close
    $27,761
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,026a month

    Down payment
    $18,105
    Cash to close
    $21,726
    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 Pekin and for Tazewell County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Pekin

2.09%of the home’s value each year

$2,521 a year for the typical owner in Pekin.

  • Pekin 2.09%
  • Tazewell 2.11%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Tazewell County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.6%
308
Of those, with NFIP insurance
17%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.6% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 17% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Pekin

Typical rent in Pekin is $819 a month: 10% below the county. In Pekin, 38% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Tazewell County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,212 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.31 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Tazewell 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 $915 $17.60 $36,600
1 bedroom $961 $18.48 $38,440
2 bedrooms $1,212 $23.31 $48,480
3 bedrooms $1,557 $29.94 $62,280
4 bedrooms $1,710 $32.88 $68,400

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 Pekin

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Pekin is in ZIP code 61554.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,110: $102 less than the fair market rent for Tazewell County ($1,212).

  • 61554 $1,110$1,430

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

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Pekin. These are the largest.

  • Uaw Senior Citizen Center 444 S Parkway Dr, Pekin 61554 216 low-income homes · For older adults (309) 347-7791
  • HSG Auth City of Pekin 343 S 4th St, Pekin 61554 196 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Pekin · Average payment: $347 a month · Average wait: 20 months (309) 346-7996
  • Court Place 230 Court St, Pekin 61554 160 low-income homes · For older adults (309) 353-9800
  • Brookmeadows 2315 Broadway St, Pekin 61554 156 low-income homes · For families (309) 673-2252
  • Sunset Hill 1470 Summit Dr, Pekin 61554 168 homes, 102 low-income · For families (309) 347-4331

See all 19 buildings in Tazewell County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Pekin

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 Tazewell County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Pekin

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

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

  • Metec

    2605 W Krause Ave, Peoria · 7 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (309) 676-3832

  • Navicore Solutions- Peoria, IL

    416 Main St, Peoria · 9 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (866) 472-4557

  • Mid Central Community Action, Inc.

    1301 W Washington St, Bloomington · 33 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (309) 829-0691

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Pekin

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 Pekin

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Pekin Public housing (309) 346-7996

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

Cities

Other cities in Tazewell County

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

Everything about Tazewell County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Tazewell 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 Pekin.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Pekin

Short answers with the numbers for Pekin and all of Tazewell 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 Pekin?

The typical home value in Pekin is $120,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Tazewell County it is $167,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Pekin?

Typical rent in Pekin is $819 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Tazewell County is $1,212.

What is the FHA loan limit in Pekin?

Pekin uses the FHA limit for all of Tazewell 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 Pekin?

The typical homeowner in Pekin pays $2,521 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.09% of the home’s value; in Tazewell County, the rate is 2.11%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Tazewell 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).