Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Freeport, IL

Cost of living in Stephenson County, IL

Estimated monthly cost
$2,633/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 44,042 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $663 25%
Healthcare $480 18%
Federal tax $444 17%
Groceries $345 13%
Transport $320 12%
Energy $177 7%
State tax $154 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Stephenson County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$597
per month
1 bedroom
$663
per month
2 bedroom
$870
per month
3 bedroom
$1,056
per month
4 bedroom
$1,225
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Stephenson County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$61,943
per year
Individual earnings
$37,214
per year
Per capita
$34,672
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Stephenson County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$127,500
Annual property tax
$3,140

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Stephenson County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$116
per month · 16.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,124
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Stephenson County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.2%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Stephenson County

State and local tax rates for Illinois.

State income tax
5.0%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Stephenson County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.9 min
Drive alone
77.2%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
10.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Stephenson County

What it costs to live in Stephenson County each month.

Single person
$2,633
per month
  • Rent $663
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $444
  • State tax $154
Couple
$3,938
per month
  • Rent $870
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $684
  • State tax $256
Family
$6,269
per month
  • Rent $1,056
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $684
  • State tax $256

Frequently asked questions about Stephenson County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Stephenson County?

In Stephenson County, IL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $663 per month, a two-bedroom averages $870 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,056 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Stephenson County?

In Stephenson County, IL, the average household income is $61,943 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $37,214 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Stephenson County?

The estimated cost of living in Stephenson County, IL is approximately $2,633 per month for a single person, $3,938 for a couple, $6,269 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Stephenson County?

The combined sales tax rate in Stephenson County, IL is 8.82%, which includes the Illinois state rate of 6.25% plus an average local rate of 2.57%.

Is Stephenson County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Stephenson County, IL would need approximately $2,633 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $61,943 per year ($5,162 per month). Stephenson County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Stephenson County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Stephenson County, IL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Stephenson County?

The average home value in Stephenson County, IL is $127,500, with average annual property taxes of $3,140, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Stephenson County compare to other areas?

You can compare Stephenson County, IL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Stephenson County is in the Freeport, IL metro area.

Other counties in Illinois

Browse the full list of counties in Illinois, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Illinois

Compare Stephenson County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources