Cost to Own
United StatesIllinoisCook CountySouth Chicago Heights Population 3,934 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in South Chicago Heights, Illinois

A $136,000 home here costs

$1,411

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $699. The real number is $712 higher every month — 102% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

South Chicago Heights median: $136,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $108,800 borrowed $699
Property tax2.321% effective rate for South Chicago Heights itself $263
Homeowners insuranceIllinois averages $1,223/yr (NAIC), or 0.47% of home value $53
Electricity23.85¢/kWh — Illinois residential average, EIA $214
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $113
Total monthly $1,411

South Chicago Heights against Cook County and Illinois

MeasureSouth Chicago HeightsCook County
Median home value$136,000$305,200
Median property tax$3,156$6,053
Effective tax rate2.321%1.983%
Median gross rent$1,105$1,381
Population3,9345,185,812

The weather behind that power bill

South Chicago Heights sits in Cook County, which averages a high of 84.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.1°F in its coldest, with 33.23" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 822 cooling and 6,364 heating degree days, which is what sets the $214 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Cook County

Full Cook County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in South Chicago Heights?

A $136,000 home in South Chicago Heights, Illinois costs approximately $1,411 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $699 principal and interest, $263 property tax, $53 homeowners insurance, $282 utilities and $113 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in South Chicago Heights?

South Chicago Heights has an effective property tax rate of 2.321%, based on a median home value of $136,000 and median real estate taxes of $3,156. That is higher than the Cook County average of 1.983%.

What is the average home price in South Chicago Heights?

The median owner-occupied home value in South Chicago Heights, Illinois is $136,000, against $305,200 across Cook County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Chicago Heights?

Median gross rent in South Chicago Heights is $1,105 a month, against $1,411 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Chicago Heights — 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