Cost to Own
United States › Illinois › Whiteside County › Fulton Population 3,457 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $533 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Whiteside County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Fulton, Illinois

A $124,000 home here costs

$1,209

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $52,000 a year.

P&I 56%Tax 15%Insurance 4%Utilities 17%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $676. The real number is $533 higher every month, 79% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Whiteside County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Fulton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,457 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Whiteside County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Fulton median: $124,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IL average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $99,200 borrowed $676
Property tax1.736% effective rate for Fulton itself $179
Homeowners insuranceIllinois averages $1,223/yr (NAIC), or 0.47% of home value $49
Electricity19.32ยข/kWh, Illinois residential average, EIA $134
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $103
Total monthly $1,209

Fulton against Whiteside County and Illinois

MeasureFultonWhiteside County
Median home value$124,400$125,800
Median property tax$2,160$2,676
Effective tax rate1.736%2.127%
Median gross rent$956$808
Population3,45755,192

The weather behind that power bill

Fulton sits in Whiteside County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.0°F in its coldest, with 38.28" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 705 cooling and 6,747 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Whiteside County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Whiteside County

Full Whiteside County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Fulton averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Fulton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Fulton I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Fulton?

A $124,000 home in Fulton, Illinois costs approximately $1,209 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $676 principal and interest, $179 property tax, $49 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $103 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Fulton?

Fulton has an effective property tax rate of 1.736%, based on a median home value of $124,400 and median real estate taxes of $2,160. That is lower than the Whiteside County average of 2.127%.

What is the average home price in Fulton?

The median owner-occupied home value in Fulton, Illinois is $124,400, against $125,800 across Whiteside County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fulton?

Median gross rent in Fulton is $956 a month, against $1,209 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Fulton?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Fulton, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $52,000 a year. That covers the full $1,209 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Fulton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Illinois.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology