IHDA Income Limits 2026: County Table + the Household Counting Rule
Illinois caps run ~$110K downstate to ~$160K in Cook and collar counties — and IHDA counts every adult in the home, not just the borrower. One table, all tiers, plus where the $510K price cap bites.
Check Your IHDA Eligibility — Free
County cap + household income + price cap. 2 minutes, no credit pull.
~$140-160K
Cook/Collar Cap
Chicago metro
~$110-125K
Downstate Cap
rural counties
~$425-510K
Price Cap
by county
Household
Counted
all 18+ occupants
IHDA Income Limits — County Tiers
| Tier | Counties | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago metro (~$140-160K) | Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry | Highest caps — collar counties track Cook |
| Mid (~$125-140K) | McLean, Champaign, Sangamon, Winnebago, Peoria, Madison, St. Clair | Metro cores downstate |
| Standard (~$110-125K) | Most mid-size Illinois counties | The default IHDA band |
| Base (~$110K) | Rural downstate counties | Lowest caps — but lowest prices too |
Approximate — verify the exact posted figure for your county at ihda.org; limits revise annually.
Same Limits, Three Structures — Which Table Applies
| Program | Income Cap | Price Cap | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| IHDAccess Forgivable (4%/$6K) | County tier limits | County purchase caps (~$425-510K) | All three IHDAccess structures use the same income table |
| IHDAccess Deferred (5%/$7.5K) | County tier limits | Same caps | Same eligibility — different repayment only |
| IHDAccess Repayable (10%/$10K) | County tier limits | Same caps | Same eligibility — biggest DPA check |
| Opening Doors grant ($6K) | County limits + tract eligibility | Same caps | True grant — property must sit in eligible census tract |
3 Illinois Eligibility Traps
1. The Chicago two-income trap
Two earners at $75K each = $150K household — inside Cook's cap but over most collar-county caps if the home sits in Will or Kane. County of the PROPERTY decides, not where you live now.
2. Price cap on the purchase price
A $515K Naperville townhouse over the ~$510K cap is out — regardless of income. The cap looks at sale price, not loan amount.
3. Opening Doors is tract-specific
The $6K true grant only applies to homes in eligible census tracts — the map, not your income, is the gating factor. Check the tract before the budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the IHDA income limit in my county?
Illinois caps run ~$110K rural to ~$160K in Cook and collar counties (DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry). IHDA counts HOUSEHOLD income — all occupants 18+, not just the applicant. Chicago-metro two-income households commonly clear $150K+ and fail the cap even at modest individual salaries. Verify your county's posted figure at ihda.org.Check my county limit — free →
Q2. Is the income limit the same for all three IHDAccess structures?
Yes — Forgivable, Deferred, and Repayable all share the same county income and purchase-price tables. The structure choice (which one you SHOULD pick) depends on your planned stay-length, not eligibility. If you qualify for one, you qualify for all three.
Q3. Does IHDA count my spouse's income if they're not on the mortgage?
Yes — household income includes every adult occupant 18+. An earning spouse, working adult child, or live-in partner counts toward the cap. This is the #1 Illinois disqualifier: applicant earns $95K solo, household totals $160K → over the Cook County cap.
Q4. What are IHDA purchase price limits?
County-specific acquisition caps roughly $425K-$510K — Cook and collar counties at the top, downstate lower. The cap applies to the PURCHASE PRICE, not the loan amount. Exceed it and no IHDA program applies to that property, even if your income fits.
Q5. I'm slightly over — does anything else work in Illinois?
Three alternatives: (1) city/county programs — Chicago's Home Buyer Assistance Program and Cook County DPA run separate limits, sometimes higher; (2) lender-portfolio DPA (some IL banks offer $5-10K DPA without IHDA caps); (3) wait for the annual limit revision if you're within a few percent.See IL DPA alternatives →
Q6. What credit score do I need for IHDA?
640 minimum on IHDAccess — same bar for all three structures. Lender overlays can push to 660 for conventional pairs. Under 640, a HUD-approved counselor is the fastest path.Boost my score →
Related Illinois & DPA Guides
County Cap + Household Total + Price Cap = The Real Answer
Illinois kills more applications on household counting than credit. Run the real math free.