The median home price in the City of Chicago reached $425,000 in July 2026, up 13% from $375,000 a year earlier, according to Illinois REALTORS data. Homes are still scarce: about 23,000 were for sale across the Chicago metro area this summer, less than half the roughly 54,000 in summer 2019.
Last reviewed September 28, 2026 · Chicago First Time Home Buyer editorial team
The numbers
| Measure | Area | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | City of Chicago | $425,000, up 13% year over year | July 2026 |
| Median sale price | 9-county Chicago metro | $401,000, up nearly 7% | July 2026 |
| Homes for sale | Chicago metro | About 23,000, down 56% from summer 2019 | Summer 2026 |
| Median sale price | Cook County | $383,716, up 5.1% | August 2026 |
| Median days on market | Cook County | 51 days | August 2026 |
| Homes sold above list price | Cook County | 43.2% | August 2026 |
| Months of supply | Cook County | 3 | August 2026 |
What it means if you are buying your first home
- Get pre-approved before you tour. With about three months of supply and more than 4 in 10 Cook County homes selling above list, sellers expect ready buyers.
- Line up assistance early. The City’s HomeGrown grant of $10,000 to $70,000 and IHDA’s IHDAccess Home of up to $15,000 require homebuyer education and program lenders, which take time.
- Look past the median. Prices vary widely by neighborhood and property type. Townhomes saw the biggest inventory increase this summer.
Common questions
What is the median home price in Chicago in 2026?
$425,000 in the City of Chicago in July 2026, according to Illinois REALTORS. Across Cook County, the median was $383,716 in August 2026, according to Redfin.
Why do the city and county figures differ?
They cover different areas and months and come from different data sources. Compare figures from the same source over time rather than mixing them.