Building Net Worth in Illinois
Net worth is the single most comprehensive measure of financial health โ it captures everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). In Illinois, with a cost of living index of 95 and a median home price of $314K, housing is typically the dominant asset for middle-income households.
The price-to-income ratio in Illinois is 3.8ร โ meaning the median home costs 3.8 years of the median household's gross income. This is a manageable ratio suggesting homeownership is accessible for median-income households with disciplined saving.
Net Worth Targets by Age in Illinois
| Age | Benchmark (ร income) | At $83K/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1ร annual income | $83,211 |
| 40 | 3ร annual income | $249,633 |
| 50 | 6ร annual income | $499,266 |
| 60 | 8ร annual income | $665,688 |
| 67 (retirement) | 10ร annual income | $832,110 |
Targets apply to investable assets (retirement accounts + savings), not including home equity.
Illinois vs. National Wealth Context
| Metric | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,211 | $74,580 |
| Median Home Price | $314,000 | $420,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 95 | 100 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.8ร | 5.6ร |
| National Median Net Worth | โ | $192,700 |