Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Thomson, Illinois
A $122,000 home here costs
$1,207per 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 $51,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $665. The real number is $542 higher every month, 81% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Carroll County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Thomson from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,526 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 Carroll County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Thomson against Carroll County and Illinois
| Measure | Thomson | Carroll County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,300 | $113,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,292 | $2,308 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.874% | 2.033% |
| Median gross rent | $940 | $784 |
| Population | 1,526 | 15,621 |
The weather behind that power bill
Thomson sits in Carroll County, which averages a high of 84.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.9°F in its coldest, with 40.3" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 746 cooling and 6,733 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Carroll County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Carroll County
Full Carroll County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Thomson 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 Thomson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Thomson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Thomson?
A $122,000 home in Thomson, Illinois costs approximately $1,207 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $665 principal and interest, $191 property tax, $48 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $102 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Thomson?
Thomson has an effective property tax rate of 1.874%, based on a median home value of $122,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,292. That is lower than the Carroll County average of 2.033%.
What is the average home price in Thomson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Thomson, Illinois is $122,300, against $113,500 across Carroll County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Thomson?
Median gross rent in Thomson is $940 a month, against $1,207 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 Thomson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Thomson, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $51,500 a year. That covers the full $1,207 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Thomson, 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.