Best Neighborhoods for First-Time Buyers in Illinois (2026 Rankings)

Buying your first home is a big step. We ranked 25 neighborhoods in Illinois by affordability index to help first-time buyers find areas where homeownership is within reach. Scores above 100 mean housing is more affordable than average.

RochelleIL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $138,800

Median Income: $55,974

Homeownership: 90.0%

Hawthorn Woods villageIL

Kurby Score: 70

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $580,400

Median Income: $215,817

Homeownership: 90.0%

Riverside villageIL

Kurby Score: 68

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $471,100

Median Income: $149,464

Homeownership: 90.0%

Bethalto villageIL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $156,300

Median Income: $67,569

Homeownership: 90.0%

Flossmoor villageIL

Kurby Score: 67

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $293,400

Median Income: $140,703

Homeownership: 90.0%

Boulder Hill CDPBoulder Hill CDP, IL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $214,600

Median Income: $76,875

Homeownership: 90.0%

Frankfort Square CDPFrankfort Square CDP, IL

Kurby Score: 68

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $274,800

Median Income: $121,500

Homeownership: 90.0%

Savoy villageIL

Kurby Score: 67

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $260,800

Median Income: $86,605

Homeownership: 90.0%

Lynwood villageIL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $195,900

Median Income: $80,789

Homeownership: 90.0%

Willowbrook villageIL

Kurby Score: 69

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $347,200

Median Income: $95,649

Homeownership: 90.0%

Lake Villa villageIL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 221

Home Value: $309,400

Median Income: $126,711

Homeownership: 90.0%

WaukeganIL

Kurby Score: 60

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $164,400

Median Income: $66,077

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

HarvardIL

Kurby Score: 64

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $161,400

Median Income: $67,938

Homeownership: 90.0%

ChampaignIL

Kurby Score: 65

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $191,200

Median Income: $58,273

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Glen Carbon villageIL

Kurby Score: 66

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $272,000

Median Income: $92,002

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Mount VernonIL

Kurby Score: 64

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $88,800

Median Income: $48,786

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

MacombIL

Kurby Score: 55

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $103,800

Median Income: $35,064

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Rantoul villageIL

Kurby Score: 63

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $102,000

Median Income: $46,078

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Palatine villageIL

Kurby Score: 61

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $337,200

Median Income: $93,383

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Shiloh villageIL

Kurby Score: 67

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $263,900

Median Income: $94,539

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

EvanstonIL

Kurby Score: 65

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $454,600

Median Income: $93,188

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Richton Park villageIL

Kurby Score: 63

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $182,800

Median Income: $69,691

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Hazel Crest villageIL

Kurby Score: 60

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $162,900

Median Income: $57,247

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Minooka villageIL

Kurby Score: 67

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $266,600

Median Income: $119,730

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

Bolingbrook villageIL

Kurby Score: 68

Affordability Index: 218

Home Value: $276,400

Median Income: $102,057

Property Tax: $7,157/yr

Homeownership: 90.0%

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ranked by median home value

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ranked by lowest median home value

Safest Neighborhoods (Low Property Crime) in Illinois

ranked by lowest property crime rates

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