CountyScore

Kane County

Illinois · IL

#100 in Illinois
50.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Kane County, Illinois

Kane County slightly above national average

Kane County's composite score of 47.1 falls just below the national median of 50.0, suggesting average livability relative to the nation. Despite the modest overall score, strong incomes provide an important counterweight.

Below Illinois state average

Kane County scores 47.1, considerably lower than Illinois's state average of 62.1, placing it in the lower half of the state's counties. Higher costs and tax burdens pull its ranking down.

Strong incomes anchor the county

Kane County's income score of 49.1 is the state's highest, with a median household income of $100,678, making it attractive for high-earning professionals. This income advantage helps offset other cost pressures.

High costs and taxes bite hard

Kane County's cost score of 55.6 and tax score of 35.2 reflect challenging affordability, with rent at $1,404/month, homes averaging $303,000, and an effective tax rate of 2.386%—the state's highest. These burdens require substantial income to absorb comfortably.

For high-income professionals seeking convenience

Kane County suits affluent families and established professionals who can absorb premium housing and tax costs for suburban accessibility. It's a choice driven by earning power rather than affordability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax35.2Cost55.6SafetyComing SoonHealth74.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome49.1Risk5.4WaterComing Soon
🏛35.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠55.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼49.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤74.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡5.4
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Kane County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bergen County
New Jersey
50.6
Median income: $123,715
Westchester County
New York
50.7
Median income: $118,411
Tarrant County
Texas
50.7
Median income: $81,905
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Connecticut
50.8
Median income: $87,135
Hidalgo County
Texas
50.3
Median income: $52,281

Deep Dives

Kane County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Kane County

via TaxByCounty

Kane County taxes hit national highs

Kane County's effective property tax rate of 2.386% ranks among the nation's highest, significantly exceeding the national median of 1.825%. Residents pay a median of $7,230 annually—nearly three times the national median of $2,690—reflecting both higher home values and elevated tax rates.

Highest taxes among all Illinois counties

Kane County ranks 102nd (last) among Illinois's 102 counties with a 2.386% effective rate, towering over the state average of 1.831%. Its median property tax of $7,230 also ranks among the state's highest, placing Kane residents in the most expensive tax bracket statewide.

Nearly doubles Kendall County rates

Kane County's 2.386% rate edges above neighboring Kendall County (2.528%)—though Kendall's higher home values push its median bill to $7,556. Kane's median home value of $303,000 combined with its steep rate creates an exceptionally high tax burden.

A $303,000 home costs $7,230 yearly

The median Kane County home valued at $303,000 generates an estimated annual property tax of $7,230. With mortgage insurance factored through escrow, homeowners typically pay around $7,537 annually—the second-highest in the comparison group.

High value makes appeals especially worthwhile

With median taxes exceeding $7,200, even modest assessment reductions deliver thousands in savings across the mortgage lifetime. Kane County residents should prioritize reviewing their assessments and filing appeals if valuations seem inflated.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Kane County

via CostByCounty

Kane County's affluent housing markets

Kane County renters spend 16.7% of income on rent, slightly above the U.S. average of roughly 15%, yet the context differs sharply. With household income of $100,678—35% above the national median—most residents absorb the $1,404 rent with less strain than raw percentages suggest.

Above state average but highest incomes

Kane County's 16.7% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Illinois's 14.7% average, yet the county's median household income of $100,678 stands 27% above the state average. Higher rents ($1,404 vs. state median $837) reflect suburban Chicago's premium market pricing.

Pricier than Kendall County despite lower rents

Kane County's $1,404 rent undercuts Kendall County's $1,763, yet owner costs favor Kendall ($1,976 vs. $1,778). Both counties command Chicago-area premiums, but Kane's higher household incomes and lower home values ($303,000 vs. $298,900) create different affordability dynamics.

Kane County's affluent housing balance

Renters pay $1,404/month while homeowners average $1,778/month, consuming roughly 17% and 21% of household income respectively. The median home value of $303,000 reflects suburban Chicago positioning, but robust household incomes of $100,678 support these higher price points.

Premium pricing in suburban Chicago

Kane County suits middle- to upper-middle-class families prioritizing Chicago-area proximity over rock-bottom costs. Compare rents and home values with adjacent Kendall County, which offers slightly higher affordability stress but similar market positioning.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Kane County

via IncomeByCounty

Kane County's Incomes Far Exceed National Average

Kane County's median household income of $100,678 towers over the national median of $74,755—a remarkable $25,923 premium. This 35% advantage places Kane County among the most economically robust counties nationally.

Illinois's Affluent Suburban Powerhouse

At $100,678, Kane County ranks among Illinois's highest-income counties, far surpassing the state median of $68,580 by roughly $32,000. The county's per capita income of $46,013 also substantially exceeds the state average of $36,009.

Kane County Dominates the Regional Economy

Kane County earnings of $100,678 dwarf all neighboring counties except Kendall County ($110,474). The county outearns Jefferson County by nearly $40,000, signaling its status as a major employment and economic hub.

High Earnings Meet Premium Home Costs

Kane County's 16.7% rent-to-income ratio remains affordable despite median home values of $303,000. Strong household incomes enable residents to comfortably manage higher-cost housing in this prosperous region.

Maximize Wealth-Building Opportunities

Kane County's high incomes position households to pursue aggressive wealth-building strategies beyond homeownership. Invest in diversified portfolios, explore real estate investment, and consider entrepreneurial ventures to compound wealth across generations.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Kane County

via HealthByCounty

Kane County achieves strong life expectancy

Kane County residents enjoy a life expectancy of 79.8 years, nearly 1 year above the U.S. average of 78.9 years. Just 16.0% report poor or fair health, outperforming the national average of 12%.

Top-tier health outcomes in Illinois

Kane County's 79.8-year life expectancy significantly exceeds Illinois's 76.0-year state average by nearly 4 years, ranking among the state's healthiest counties. However, the uninsured rate of 9.4% is notably higher than the state average of 6.3%.

High life expectancy, coverage concerns

Kane County matches Jo Daviess's strong 79.8-year life expectancy and trails only Kendall County (80.5 years) regionally. Despite excellent health outcomes, its 9.4% uninsured rate is the highest among peer counties, suggesting coverage access is a vulnerability.

Strong health masked by coverage gaps

Kane County's 9.4% uninsured rate—the highest in this group—suggests significant insurance access challenges despite superior health outcomes and solid provider availability (40 primary care and 394 mental health providers per 100,000). This gap signals potential hardship for uninsured households facing medical costs.

Don't go without coverage

With nearly 1 in 10 residents uninsured, Kane County residents should prioritize getting covered through marketplace plans, Medicaid, or employer options. Even with strong overall county health, the wrong medical emergency can devastate an uninsured household.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Kane County

via RiskByCounty

Kane County faces significantly elevated risk

Kane County's composite risk score of 94.59 ranks it in the relatively high-risk category, nearly 75% above Illinois's state average of 54.46. The county's exposure to tornadoes (98.63), floods (95.48), and earthquakes (86.39) makes it one of Illinois's most disaster-prone counties.

Among Illinois's highest-risk counties

Kane County's 94.59 score ranks it well above the state average of 54.46, placing it in the upper tier of risk statewide. Only a handful of Illinois counties approach this level of compound natural hazard exposure.

Significantly riskier than nearby counties

Kane County's 94.59 score far exceeds Kendall County (80.25) to the south and Jo Daviess County (51.30) to the north. This makes Kane among the riskiest counties in northern Illinois and the surrounding region.

Tornados and floods are critical threats

Kane County faces exceptional tornado risk of 98.63—among the highest in the nation—and flood risk of 95.48, creating severe compound exposure. Earthquake risk of 86.39 and moderate wildfire exposure of 32.73 add additional layers of hazard vulnerability.

Maximum insurance and reinforcement needed

Kane County residents should maintain the most comprehensive homeowners coverage available, including separate flood and earthquake policies. Investing in a reinforced safe room or basement shelter for tornado protection is strongly recommended given the county's exceptional storm exposure.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.