Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Sycamore, Illinois
A $254,000 home here costs
$2,416per 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 $103,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,385. The real number is $1,031 higher every month, 74% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare DeKalb County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Sycamore against DeKalb County and Illinois
| Measure | Sycamore | DeKalb County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,200 | $231,900 |
| Median property tax | $6,223 | $5,889 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.448% | 2.539% |
| Median gross rent | $1,062 | $1,041 |
| Population | 18,243 | 100,512 |
The weather behind that power bill
Sycamore sits in DeKalb County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.1°F in its coldest, with 37.25" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 790 cooling and 6,745 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for DeKalb County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in DeKalb County
Full DeKalb County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Sycamore 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 Sycamore every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Sycamore I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Sycamore?
A $254,000 home in Sycamore, Illinois costs approximately $2,416 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,385 principal and interest, $518 property tax, $99 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $212 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Sycamore?
Sycamore has an effective property tax rate of 2.448%, based on a median home value of $254,200 and median real estate taxes of $6,223. That is lower than the DeKalb County average of 2.539%.
What is the average home price in Sycamore?
The median owner-occupied home value in Sycamore, Illinois is $254,200, against $231,900 across DeKalb County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sycamore?
Median gross rent in Sycamore is $1,062 a month, against $2,416 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 Sycamore?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sycamore, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $103,500 a year. That covers the full $2,416 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sycamore, 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.