Downstate Illinois Section 8 Cash Flow, Tax and All
Downstate Illinois is the part of the state that cash-flows on Section 8. Both markets we grade — Peoria (B) and Rockford (B) — are reliable with the right property, on a median 3-bed voucher around $1,408/mo. These are steady Midwest rental markets where voucher rent supports the numbers.
The honest catch is property tax: Illinois runs near 2%, among the highest in the country, and it's the line item that decides whether a deal nets out. Insurance is moderate at roughly 0.8%. That tax is already weighted into the grades here, but you still underwrite it deal-by-deal. Screen any Illinois listing free on CloseHound first.
Section 8 markets in Illinois, best cash flow first
Voucher figures are HUD SAFMR 3-bedroom medians (FY2026) across each market's screened ZIP codes. Open a market for the full ZIP-level table.
Illinois Section 8 FAQ
Is Illinois a good Section 8 market?+
Downstate, yes. Peoria and Rockford both grade B, meaning voucher rent reliably supports cash flow with the right property. The roughly 2% property tax is the trade-off you have to underwrite carefully.
What's the Section 8 voucher rent for a 3-bed in Illinois?+
The median 3-bedroom voucher across Illinois's covered markets is about $1,408/mo for FY2026. Peoria and Rockford each set their own ZIP-level payment standards, so individual amounts sit above and below that.
What's the property-tax drag in Illinois?+
Illinois property tax runs near 2%, among the highest in the US, and it's the biggest factor in whether a deal nets out. Insurance is more moderate at around 0.8%.
How do I find cash-flowing Section 8 deals in Illinois?+
Focus on Peoria and Rockford and underwrite the ~2% property tax on every property. CloseHound screens any Illinois address against its ZIP voucher rent and real tax load for free.
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