Kankakee County
IL · Pop. 106,833 · Mixed County
Kankakee County, Illinois covers 676 square miles with a population of 106,833 and a density of 158 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $186,000 and an effective property tax rate of 2.22% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 83°F and average winter lows of 19.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.2 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Presence Central and Suburban Hospitals Network is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $186,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Presence Central and Suburban Hospitals Network, with an emergency room, is just 1.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- An effective property tax rate of 2.22% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Kankakee County, IL is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 32/100
- Median home price
- $186k
- Property tax
- 2.22%
- Growing season
- 184 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 39.2"
- Broadband
- 96.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Presence Central and Suburban Hospitals Network, 1.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Kankakee County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Kankakee County?
- Kankakee County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 83°F, and average winter lows of 19.1°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $186,000 and the effective property tax rate is 2.22%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Presence Central and Suburban Hospitals Network is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Illinois
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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