The Collar Counties Share Cook's Numbers Exactly
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Five counties, one set of numbers, and one neighbour that breaks the pattern. Knowing which line actually matters saves a lot of pointless county-hopping.
They are genuinely identical
| County | General limit | AccessHome 1-2 | AccessHome 3+ | Price cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
| DuPage | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
| Kane | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
| Lake | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
| McHenry | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
| Will | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 | $666,354 |
The IHDA income and purchase price limits group all six on one row of the table. There is no Lake Forest premium and no Joliet discount. The program treats Winnetka and Waukegan the same way.
The one county line that does change things
Kendall. It borders Kane and Will and sits on its own tier at $190,120, which is $20,020 higher, with AccessHome limits of $135,800 and $156,170.
For a buyer shopping the Fox Valley across the Kane and Kendall line, that is a live difference on the same income. Kendall in detail.
Grundy, bordering Will to the south, goes the other way at $166,320.
Where targeted status sits
The targeted income table lists Cook, Kane, Lake and Will on its top tier at $170,100 general with AccessHome at $145,800 and $170,100. DuPage and McHenry appear within the all-other-counties group on that table, at $157,640 general with AccessHome at $135,120.
Since targeted status is determined by property address rather than county, the practical step is the same everywhere: check the specific address. What it is worth.
So what does vary across the collar counties?
Not the program. Price, taxes and inventory vary enormously between, say, northern Lake County and southern Will County, and those shape what you can buy. The IHDA test itself does not move.
Which brings it back to the household rules. Across all six counties the thing most likely to end an application is the same: a co-borrower who cannot help, or a non-borrowing spouse's ownership history. Why that is.
See also all four ladders and Cook County.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IHDA income limit in DuPage County?
$170,100 for the general programs effective 7-1-2026, for any household size, which is the same limit that applies in Cook, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. Under IHDAccess Home the limit is $121,500 for a one or two person household and $139,725 for three or more. The purchase price cap is $666,354 for a non-targeted one-unit home.
Do the collar counties have different DPA limits than Cook County?
No. IHDA groups Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will on a single row of its limit table, all at $170,100 for the general programs and $121,500 or $139,725 under IHDAccess Home. Purchase price limits are identical statewide. Moving between those six counties does not change IHDA eligibility.
Which county near Chicago has a higher DPA income limit?
Kendall County, which borders Kane and Will and sits on its own tier at $190,120 for the general programs, $20,020 above the six-county Chicago group. Its IHDAccess Home limits are $135,800 for one or two people and $156,170 for three or more. Grundy County, bordering Will, goes the other direction at $166,320.
Is Lake County treated differently from Will County for Illinois DPA?
No. Both sit in the same IHDA income group as Cook, DuPage, Kane and McHenry, at $170,100 for the general programs and $121,500 or $139,725 under IHDAccess Home. Both carry the same $666,354 non-targeted one-unit purchase price cap and the same $832,750 conforming loan limit.
Do targeted areas exist in the collar counties?
Yes, and targeted status is determined by property address rather than by county. On IHDA's targeted income table, Cook, Kane, Lake and Will appear on the top tier at $170,100 general with IHDAccess Home at $145,800 for one or two people. DuPage and McHenry fall within the all-other-counties group at $157,640 general with AccessHome at $135,120. The address lookup is what settles it.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. IHDA program terms, income limits and purchase price limits are set by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them and IHDA's own disclaimer applies, that funding and availability are subject to change and are not guaranteed until a complete reservation is placed. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.