The Chicago-Naperville market right now
Sales figures: Redfin Data Center, market tracker (Redfin, a national real estate brokerage), Chicago, IL metro area, May 2026, all residential property types. Redfin reports this metro in divisions. Figures shown are for the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL division, the largest. Typical value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026, mid-tier homes, seasonally adjusted. These are area-wide figures, not a value for any one home.
With about 2.8 months of supply, this is a market that leans toward sellers by the usual rule of thumb, and homes sold at or above their list price on average.
Show the numbers
| Month | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | $397,500 |
| Apr 2026 | $390,000 |
| Mar 2026 | $375,000 |
| Feb 2026 | $360,000 |
| Jan 2026 | $347,000 |
| Dec 2025 | $353,250 |
| Nov 2025 | $357,745 |
| Oct 2025 | $366,500 |
| Sep 2025 | $360,000 |
| Aug 2025 | $375,000 |
| Jul 2025 | $375,000 |
| Jun 2025 | $385,000 |
| May 2025 | $376,000 |
| Apr 2025 | $370,000 |
| Mar 2025 | $360,000 |
| Feb 2025 | $345,000 |
| Jan 2025 | $335,000 |
| Dec 2024 | $340,000 |
| Nov 2024 | $347,789 |
| Oct 2024 | $340,000 |
| Sep 2024 | $350,000 |
| Aug 2024 | $351,500 |
| Jul 2024 | $365,000 |
| Jun 2024 | $375,000 |
| May 2024 | $355,000 |
Source: Redfin Data Center, Chicago, IL metro area. Monthly figures, not seasonally adjusted, so some ups and downs are just the time of year.
What the metro area covers
The Census Bureau counts about 9,408,576 people in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, across 13 counties. Property taxes, recording fees and some transfer taxes are set county by county, so check the county your home is in.
| County | Population (2024 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Cook County, IL, IL | 5,182,617 |
| DuPage County, IL, IL | 937,142 |
| Lake County, IL, IL | 718,604 |
| Will County, IL, IL | 708,583 |
| Kane County, IL, IL | 520,997 |
| Lake County, IN, IN | 502,955 |
| McHenry County, IL, IL | 315,959 |
| Porter County, IN, IN | 175,860 |
| Kendall County, IL, IL | 143,171 |
| DeKalb County, IL, IL | 101,335 |
| Grundy County, IL, IL | 53,835 |
| Jasper County, IN, IN | 33,387 |
Plus 1 smaller counties.
Towns with the most ZIP codes in the area: Chicago (IL), Aurora (IL), Gary (IN), Palatine (IL), Schaumburg (IL), Evanston (IL), Carol Stream (IL), Naperville (IL), Joliet (IL), Elgin (IL), Hammond (IN), Des Plaines (IL).
Population and counties: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2023 metro delineations.
Illinois rules that affect sellers
Transfer tax
Illinois charges a state real estate transfer tax of 50 cents for each $500 of value (0.1%), and every county adds 25 cents per $500 (0.05%). Either party can be liable, but the seller customarily pays the state and county taxes. Many home rule cities and villages add their own transfer tax, and who pays those depends on the town.
Local add-ons: Counties add 25 cents per $500. Many home rule municipalities add their own tax with their own rules on who pays. For example, Chicago charges $5.25 per $500, with $3.75 customarily paid by the buyer and $1.50 by the seller, according to the Illinois REALTORS January 2024 chart.
Seller disclosure
Yes. The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 77) requires sellers of homes with one to four units, condos and co-op units to complete the state Residential Real Property Disclosure Report and deliver it to the buyer before a binding contract is signed. A separate Radon Awareness Act adds radon paperwork.
Who handles the closing
Illinois closings are run through a title company, and sellers and buyers commonly hire real estate attorneys to handle the contract, prepare closing documents and attend closing. The Illinois State Bar Association recommends hiring one, though it does not say the law requires it.
Also worth knowing
Under the Illinois Radon Awareness Act, sellers must give buyers the state pamphlet "Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions" and the Illinois Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards form.
Source: Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, Radon and Real Estate
Also worth knowing
Purchase contracts in Illinois often include an attorney review period, which lets each side's lawyer propose changes to the signed contract. The state bar suggests that sellers who accept an offer before talking to a lawyer make sure the contract allows for this review.
Also worth knowing
If the disclosure report reveals a material defect after the contract is signed, the buyer can cancel within 3 business days of receiving it and get the earnest money back, as long as the sale has not closed.
Source: US Legal, Illinois Seller's Disclosure Law (765 ILCS 77/40)
Checking an agent's license
Real estate agents in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Real Estate). You can look up any agent before you work with them.
Rules checked 2026-09-30. They change, and local practice varies: confirm with your title company, closing attorney or agent before relying on them. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
This metro area crosses state lines. If your home is in Indiana, that state's rules apply instead.