Cost to Own
United States › Illinois › Sangamon County › Jerome Population 1,910 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-22
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $553 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Sangamon County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Jerome, Illinois

A $117,000 home here costs

$1,196

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $51,500 a year.

P&I 54%Tax 17%Insurance 4%Utilities 17%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $643. The real number is $553 higher every month, 86% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Sangamon County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Jerome from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,910 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 Sangamon County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Jerome median: $116,700
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, $93,600 borrowed $643
Property tax2.136% effective rate for Jerome itself $208
Homeowners insuranceIllinois averages $1,223/yr (NAIC), or 0.47% of home value $46
Electricity19.32ยข/kWh, Illinois residential average, EIA $134
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $98
Total monthly $1,196

Jerome against Sangamon County and Illinois

MeasureJeromeSangamon County
Median home value$116,700$170,300
Median property tax$2,493$3,369
Effective tax rate2.136%1.978%
Median gross rent$954$954
Population1,910195,217

The weather behind that power bill

Jerome sits in Sangamon County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.6°F in its coldest, with 40.45" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,094 cooling and 5,455 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Sangamon County

Full Sangamon County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Jerome 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 Jerome every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

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

Common questions

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

A $117,000 home in Jerome, Illinois costs approximately $1,196 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $643 principal and interest, $208 property tax, $46 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $98 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Jerome?

Jerome has an effective property tax rate of 2.136%, based on a median home value of $116,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,493. That is higher than the Sangamon County average of 1.978%.

What is the average home price in Jerome?

The median owner-occupied home value in Jerome, Illinois is $116,700, against $170,300 across Sangamon County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jerome?

Median gross rent in Jerome is $954 a month, against $1,196 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 Jerome?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Jerome, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $51,500 a year. That covers the full $1,196 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Jerome, 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