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City · 14,710 residents · St. Clair County, Illinois

Swansea , Illinois

In Swansea, a typical home is worth $223,600 and typical rent is $1,137 a month. Compared with all of St. Clair County, the typical home value is 24% higher, typical household income is 24% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 5 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $223,600

    24% above the county

    15% below Illinois

    • Swansea
    • St. Clair
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $1,137a month

    4% above the county

    11% below Illinois

    • Swansea
    • St. Clair
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $91,587a year

    24% above the county

    10% above Illinois

    • Swansea
    • St. Clair
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    73%

    5 points above the county

    6 points above Illinois

    • Swansea
    • St. Clair
    • Illinois

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$265,311
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,483 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

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

Swansea is in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Swansea apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Belleville, the typical home value is $141,300: 37% less than in Swansea ($223,600).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Swansea rose 1.3%; in Illinois, it rose 5.3%.

  3. The typical home in Swansea is worth $223,600, 24% more than in St. Clair County as a whole ($180,300).

  4. The typical household income in Swansea is $91,587, 24% more than in St. Clair County as a whole ($73,854).

  5. 73% of households in Swansea own their home, against 68% in St. Clair County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Swansea

What homes there are in Swansea, 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

In Swansea, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in St. Clair County.

Mobile homes are 9% of homes in Swansea, more than in St. Clair County (4%).

Year built

Homes in Swansea are newer: the typical year built is 1993; in St. Clair County, 1975.

In Swansea, 66% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in St. Clair County (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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 94% of owner-occupied homes in Swansea sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,872 a month

St. Clair County: $1,645 a month

Without a mortgage

$735 a month

St. Clair County: $645 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

St. Clair County: 59%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Swansea is $1,872 a month, more than in St. Clair County ($1,645); without one, $735.

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 Swansea gained value more slowly than in St. Clair County: 34% since 2015–2019, against 41%.

Rent in Swansea moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

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

MeasureSwanseaSt. Clair CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.7%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.512.472.462.53
Drive alone 76%75%66%69%
Carpool 7%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate2%6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 15%12%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in St. Clair County, a household in Swansea has 2.51 people on average.

In Swansea, 76% of workers drive alone to work; in St. Clair County, 75%.

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 Swansea?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Swansea, worth $223,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Swansea, which is $91,587 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Swansea. 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 $7,826 (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

$2,076

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$219,550
Total interest
$315,881
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,776 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,137 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $2,137 to $2,748 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,748 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Swansea ($91,587 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,076
Principal & interest$1,487
Property tax$397
Home insurance$93
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$99

You need at least $7,826 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

Swansea and St. Clair County

Swansea is in St. Clair 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).

Swansea's own numbers

Typical home value
$223,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,137
Typical yearly household income
$91,587
Households that own their home
73%
Effective property tax rate
2.13%

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

Numbers for all of St. Clair County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,349
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+52%

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 St. Clair County.

Everything about St. Clair County

Buying

Buying a home in Swansea

A typical home in Swansea is worth $223,600: 24% above the county and 15% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Swansea ($91,587 a year), a typical home costs 2.4 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.

  • Swansea 2.4 years
  • St. Clair 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 St. Clair County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in St. Clair County rose 69% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +52% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +69% +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

Swansea next to St. Clair 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
  • Swansea $223,600
  • St. Clair $180,300
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Swansea $1,137
  • St. Clair $1,090
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Swansea $91,587
  • St. Clair $73,854
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Swansea next to St. Clair County and Illinois
Measure Swansea St. Clair County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $223,600 $180,300 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,137 $1,090 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $91,587 $73,854 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 73% 68% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,759 $3,665 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.13% 2.03% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 38% 48% 48% 51%

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

For a typical $223,600 home in Swansea, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Swansea's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,076a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,826
    Cash to close
    $14,534
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $99

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,035a month

    Down payment
    $11,180
    Cash to close
    $17,888
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $106

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,702a month

    Down payment
    $44,720
    Cash to close
    $51,428
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,909a month

    Down payment
    $33,540
    Cash to close
    $40,248
    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 Swansea and for St. Clair County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Swansea

2.13%of the home’s value each year

$4,759 a year for the typical owner in Swansea.

  • Swansea 2.13%
  • St. Clair 2.03%
  • Illinois 2.01%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in St. Clair County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in St. Clair 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 Swansea

Typical rent in Swansea is $1,137 a month: 4% above the county. In Swansea, 38% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of St. Clair County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,349 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of St. Clair 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 $1,064 $20.46 $42,560
1 bedroom $1,104 $21.23 $44,160
2 bedrooms $1,349 $25.94 $53,960
3 bedrooms $1,731 $33.29 $69,240
4 bedrooms $1,997 $38.40 $79,880

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 Swansea

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Swansea is in ZIP code 62226.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,210: $139 less than the fair market rent for St. Clair County ($1,349).

  • 62226 $1,210$1,550

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Swansea

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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in St. Clair County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Swansea

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

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

  • Urban League of Metropolitan ST. Louis - ST. Clair County Operations

    10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights · 3 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    618-274-1150-126

  • Madison County Urban League

    408 E Broadway Street, Alton · 26 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    618-463-1906-222

  • Macoupin County Housing Authority

    760 Anderson Street, Carlinville · 51 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    217-854-8606-202

Every agency in St. Clair County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Swansea

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 Swansea

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

  • St. Clair County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (618) 277-6988

One other authority has an office in St. Clair County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in St. Clair County

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

Everything about St. Clair County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If St. Clair 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 Swansea.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Swansea

Short answers with the numbers for Swansea and all of St. Clair 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 Swansea?

The typical home value in Swansea is $223,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in St. Clair County it is $180,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Swansea?

Typical rent in Swansea is $1,137 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in St. Clair County is $1,349.

What is the FHA loan limit in Swansea?

Swansea uses the FHA limit for all of St. Clair 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 Swansea?

The typical homeowner in Swansea pays $4,759 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.13% of the home’s value; in St. Clair County, the rate is 2.03%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in St. Clair 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).