Important points
Cook County reached a milestone in June. It was the first time since mid-2022 that homes sold for more than asking prices, while national home prices remained near historic lows. Median sales price reached $398,875, up 6% year-over-year and three times the national price increase. Pending sales increased 9% year-over-year, indicating increased buyer activity heading into the summer.
A Snapshot of the Cook County, Illinois Housing Market
Median Sales Price Pending Sales Active Listing Days Days on Market Sold on List $398,875 (+6.4% YoY) 6,486 (+8.7% YoY) 21,303 (-1.0% YoY) 47 days (-1 day YoY) 51.3% (+4.4 ppt YoY)
Cook County’s housing market shifted into upward gear in June. Prices were well ahead of the national pace, bidding wars reached majority territory and pending sales marked the largest annual increase since early 2025. Available inventory is down from a year ago, even though more sellers are listing items. The big picture is that the market has been more profitable for sellers than any other month since the pandemic-era rally.
As summer comes to an end, learn what you need to know about the Cook County, Illinois housing market and what buyers and sellers can do to be successful.
A snapshot of the US housing market
Median Sales Price Pending On Sale Active Listing Days Balance of Buyers and Sellers on Market $408,776 (+2.2% YoY) 349,254 (+4.5% YoY) 1,496,490 (+0.8% YoY) 49 Days (+1 Day YoY) Number of sellers outnumber buyers by 48.5%
Nationwide, home prices rose 2% and pending sales increased by about 5%. Stocks hardly moved. That national situation hardly applies here. Prices in Cook County rose three times as fast as other parts of the country saw modest increases, while supply contracted and more than half of homes sold for above asking price. This is more than double the national price.
“June marked a crossroads in the continued recovery of the housing market,” said Chen Zhao, head of economic research at Redfin. “Prices rose faster than in recent months, with economic uncertainty related to the Iran war and rising mortgage rates spooking some home buyers and sellers.On the bright side, home sales are trending upwards and wages have risen faster than prices, helping There are areas of competition in the Midwest, Northeast, and Gulf Coast regions, but in general, consumers are still weathering a difficult period. Still, economists expect the market to improve gradually over the next few years.”
Cook County prices are rising three times faster than the nation.
While the national price increase was just 2%, Cook County’s median price rose nearly 7%, the largest difference in a year. The median sales price in June reached $398,875, an increase of nearly 7% from a year ago. Cook County is up about 46% since the beginning of 2020, accelerating again after slowing earlier this year. Median price per square foot increased approximately 6% year-over-year to $263, confirming that these increases reflect true value rather than compositional changes to larger properties.
Price reductions were rare. Only about 11% of active public companies lowered their asking prices, down from 12% a year ago and well below the national average. The typical home sold for nearly 2% above list price, an increase of 1 percentage point over last year. Sellers set ambitious prices, and buyers consistently matched or exceeded those prices.
Pending sales spike as buyer activity increases
Pending sales in Cook County reached 6,486 units in June, an increase of nearly 9% from a year ago and nearly double the national growth rate of 4.5%. This was the strongest year-on-year increase locally since January 2025 and marked a sharp reversal from the flat-to-downward trend that characterized much of 2025. The number of homes sold also increased by about 4%, and the number of new listings increased by about 6%. This indicates that more sellers entered the market, but buyers absorbed the supply even faster.
Due to this surge in activity, inventories remain tight. The number of active listings decreased by approximately 1% from the previous year to 21,303, and the number of months of supply was 2.5 months, significantly lower than the national average of 3.7 months. The number of days available for inventory decreased from 45 days a year ago to 41 days. This means that the market share of retained inventory is shrinking. Buyers hoping for a summer slowdown found the opposite. Demand is accelerating, while fewer options are available.
Number of new listings surges as more sellers enter the market
The number of new listings in Cook County reached 6,705 in June, an increase of about 6% from the previous year, which is about 30 times faster than the national rate (which was about the same). More sellers returned to the market, with June’s monthly total reaching its highest level since 2024. The influx of sellers coincided with rising prices and increased competition. Even though more housing became available, demand outstripped additional supply. In contrast, the number of new listings nationwide remained largely unchanged, remaining at just over 395,000 after two years of stagnation.
Increased supply failed to ease pressure on buyers. In fact, despite the surge in listings, available inventory is down about 1% year over year, meaning homes are being absorbed almost as quickly as they are appearing. For sellers considering whether to go public, the data sent a clear signal. That means there is still a good chance that new supply will enter the market, be consumed quickly, and attract competitive offers.
The upper class is leading the price increase. Bottom stalls again
Median price tier (YoY) Sold (YoY) DOM (YoY) Listing rate (YoY) Luxury (top 5%) $1,538,890 (+4.3%) 991 (+5.2%) 44 days (-5 days) 44.7% (+9.1 ppt) High price (65th – 95%) $622,337 (+6.0%) 4,570 (+1.6%) 41 days (-3 days) 55.3% (+4.8 ppt) Non-premium (35-65%) $366,688 (+4.6%) 3,721 (-0.8%) 48 days (0 days) 49.9% (+1.5 ppt) Starter (5-35%) $230,351 (+4.0%) 4,034 (-1.0%) 56 days (0 days) 37.3% (-0.8 ppt) Bottom (bottom 5%) $104,193 (+0.1%) 722 (-9.8%) 69 days (+8 days) 22.9% (-0.9 ppt)
Redfin Analysis of MLS Data • Rolling 3-month period (March-May 2026)
The top tier grew the fastest, at 6% year-over-year, with more than half of the homes in that tier selling for above list price. For luxury homes (median price $1.54 million), above-listing activity accelerated dramatically, rising 9 percentage points to nearly 45%. Additionally, sales volume increased by approximately 5%, making it the only demographic with a significant increase. Both high-end and high-end products sold faster, with days on market decreasing by three to five days compared to a year ago.
At the bottom, prices were almost flat and sales were down nearly 10%. Homes in this category sat for 69 days, 28 days more than in the top tier, and less than a quarter sold for more than asking price. Starter homes fell in the middle, with prices up about 4%, but sales volume down and listing activity down slightly. The split between tiers showed a market where competition was concentrated in the top half, while buyers at lower price points had more room for negotiation.
How buyers and sellers can navigate the Cook County market
When buying in Cook County, plan for competition every step of the way. More than 51% of homes sold for more than asking price in June, and the numbers were even higher in the upper tiers. Secure your funds before you start your tour, set firm limits, and be prepared to move quickly. The median-priced home went under contract in 47 days, and the fastest-moving properties were gone within two weeks. Even if the competition for upper-tier housing is out of reach, the starter and lower segments still offer more bargaining power.
If you want to sell, the conditions are very favorable. The average home sold for nearly 2% above listing, and less than 11% of listings required a price reduction. If you set your prices accurately from day one, you’re more likely to get offers right away. However, with widespread strength, the volume of listed bulletproof bottom tiers will drop sharply, and don’t assume that the top-priced homes in any tier are at risk of sitting idle while appropriately priced competitors move on.
Cook County, Illinois Market Data by City
Rolling three-month period (April to June 2026). Displays cities with 50 or more sales.
New sales listings for the city’s median sales price (year-over-year). Percent active DOM above supply Chicago $429,766 (+7.4% YoY) 7,846 9,591 15,923 46 50.4% 2.8 Arlington Heights $499,728 (-2.0% YoY) 303 378 539 41 55.9% 2.1 Evanston $454,753 (-12.5% from previous year) 296 316 485 40 50.3% 1.9 Schaumburg $339,815 (+1.7% from previous year) 273 372 525 44 52.2% 2.6 Tinley Park $337,816 (+6.2% from previous year) 271 312 472 42 46.9% 2.0 Palatine $399,782 (+6.3% YoY) 262 349 493 41 55.6% 2.5 Orland Park $396,784 (+7.2% YoY) 239 323 474 44 44.3% 2.8 Oak Park $574,687 (+15.1% YoY) 231 263 382 41 60.7% 2.0 Des Plaines $374,796 (+11.9% YoY) 191 242 367 47 47.2% 2.5 Oak Lawn $309,831 (+3.3% YoY) 190 267 440 54 42.0% 3.4 Skokie $464,747 (+4.4% YoY) 179 241 358 42 46.4% 2.7 Glenview $827,550 (+19.1% YoY) 165 204 296 36 59.1% 2.2 Mount Prospect $449,755 (+1.1% YoY) 161 201 308 46 54.9% 2.4 Hoffman Estates $414,774 (+3.4% YoY) 160 237 325 44 57.2% 3.1 Streamwood $330,320 (-1.2% YoY) 154 158 234 45 58.1% 1.6 Park Ridge $687,126 (+22.7% YoY) 152 187 282 44 47.4% 2.1 Northbrook $767,083 (+8.0% YoY) 152 192 288 42 54.2% 2.4 Wilmette $1,219,336 (-2.5% YoY) 140 148 214 32 65.8% 1.4 Elk Grove Village $380,293 (-4.9% YoY) 133 142 204 45 53.2% 1.6 Wheeling $299,837 (-8.6% YoY) 112 133 205 52 42.3% 2.3 Berwyn $374,796 (+4.1% YoY) 107 143 252 56 44.3% 3.6 Lansing $202,190 (-3.7% YoY) 98 139 258 66 44.9% 4.8 Morton Grove $489,234 (+11.7% YoY) 96 130 191 42 49.0% 2.8 Oak Forest $319,826 (+6.4% YoY) 96 107 177 47 50.1% 2.5 Elmwood Park $418,772 (+17.1% YoY) 91 93 176 51 41.7% 2.3 Homewood $259,859 (+7.2% YoY) 89 101 214 64 31.1% 3.1 Calumet City $149,918 (-14.3% YoY) 88 126 298 106 43.1% 6.2 Niles $439,761 (+19.8% YoY) 88 97 158 46 42.0% 2.2 Western Springs $989,462 (+16.0% YoY) 87 81 117 35 57.8% 1.2 South Holland $219,880 (-3.6% YoY) 87 95 214 83 40.1% 4.2 Rolling Meadows $369,799 (+19.3% YoY) 82 113 159 44 51.4% 2.6 Park Forest $156,915 (-1.0% YoY) 80 135 249 76 38.5% 6.0 Palos Hills $315,828 (+20.5% YoY) 77 97 157 52 34.7% 2.8 Westchester $390,787 (+1.6% YoY) 77 88 132 40 61.5% 2.0 Burbank $324,823 (+4.8% YoY) 75 86 146 55 48.0% 2.8 Winnetka $1,888,980 (+4.2% YoY) 73 59 92 32 59.3% 1.1 Cicero $333,818 (+6.0% YoY) 69 106 188 62 41.9% 5.2 Forest Park $382,292 (+17.3% YoY) 68 88 126 43 47.1% 2.3 Country Club Hills $243,368 (+16.6% YoY) 66 92 192 61 37.6% 5.0 Dalton $149,918 (-13.1% YoY) 61 90 218 89 41.8% 6.5 Lagrange $574,687 (-10.7% YoY) 61 84 125 40 56.8% 2.7 Brookfield $394,285 (+2.4% YoY) 61 80 108 43 55.1% 2.3 Prospect Heights $332,819 (+47.9% YoY) 60 81 123 53 39.1% 2.6 Chicago Heights $189,897 (-0.3% YoY) 59 100 190 73 39.7% 5.1 Palos Heights $365,801 (+3.0% YoY) 59 74 112 50 36.3% 2.7 River Forest $719,608 (+2.7% YoY) 58 64 94 40 45.7% 1.8 Matheson $249,864 (-2.0% YoY) 56 65 140 76 31.0% 4.2 Evergreen Park $338,316 (+11.5% YoY) 55 70 117 53 59.4% 2.9 Barrington $670,635 (+5.6% YoY) 54 80 122 44 35.9% 3.4 Hazel Crest $192,895 (+8.7% YoY) 53 63 158 84 32.8% 4.8 Crestwood $207,137 (+15.7% YoY) 53 61 90 44 36.6% 2.2 Lemon $509,723 (-3.9% YoY) 50 69 112 50 32.7% 2.7
This article was created in whole or in part using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology with input from Chen Zhao, Head of Economic Research at Redfin. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, you should independently verify all data, facts, and quotes contained in this article before relying on the information for any purpose. This information is not intended to substitute for advice from a real estate agent, financial advisor, or other qualified professional. County-level data are not seasonally adjusted. For more detailed housing market data, check out the Redfin Data Center.
