Fewer Americans are making homeownership a top priority than before the recession and accompanying housing market collapse, according to the Washington Post. Only 61 percent say owning a house is emblematic of the American Dream, 17 percent lower than the high point in 1986. But more people in Illinois own the homes they live in (more than 78 percent) than people who own the homes they live in nationally, according to areavibes.com. A little more than 72 percent of Americans own the homes they live in.
Illinoisans who choose to own the houses they live in face decisions about which communities fit best for them and their housing budgets. The nearly 22 percent of Illinoisans who rent their homes face the same questions in a completely different market. The average rent asked for a home in Illinois is $791 per month, according to areavibes.com, just barely less than the national average of $801 per month.
There are homes for rent in nearly every community in Illinois, whether as apartments or single-family homes. The median varies in each city depending on housing demand and proximity to amenities such as shopping, restaurants and transportation.
These Illinois communities have median rents above the state median:
Naperville: 13 percent of homes are renter-occupied with a median rent of $1,150 per month
Evanston: 41.3 percent of homes are renter-occupied with a median rent of $1,092 per month
Aurora: 25.6 percent of homes are renter-occupied with a median rent of $979 per month
Chicago: 49.9 percent of homes are renter-occupied with a median rent of $885 per month
Joliet: 25.4 percent of homes are renter-occupied with a median rent of $819 per month
Where in Illinois can you find a cheaper apartment? Find out at Reboot Illinois!
