Kendall County Sits on Its Own Income Tier
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
One county in Illinois carries an income limit higher than Cook's, and it is not one most people would guess. If you are buying in Oswego, Yorkville or Plano, this matters.
The numbers, and how unusual they are
| County group | General limit | AccessHome, 1-2 | AccessHome, 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendall | $190,120 | $135,800 | $156,170 |
| Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will | $170,100 | $121,500 | $139,725 |
| Grundy, McLean | $166,320 | $118,800 | $136,620 |
| All other counties | $157,640 | $112,600 | $129,490 |
Per the IHDA income and purchase price limits, Kendall occupies a tier by itself. Its neighbours Kane and Will sit $20,020 lower on the general limit, and Grundy lower still. A household that is over the limit in Oswego's neighbouring county may be comfortably inside it in Kendall.
Where it matters most
The general limit gets the attention, but the AccessHome figures are where Kendall's tier does real work. $135,800 for a one or two person household against $121,500 in the collar counties is $14,300 of additional room on the only program paying 6% to $15,000.
For a household of three or more, $156,170 against $139,725 is $16,445 of room. Kendall is the easiest county in Illinois in which to clear the AccessHome test without needing a targeted address. The AccessHome program.
The price side does not move
Worth being clear, because it is the part people assume. Kendall's purchase price cap is $666,354 for a non-targeted one-unit, exactly as it is in Cook, in Pope and everywhere else. IHDA's price tables print the same figure on every county row.
The conforming limit is likewise $832,750, the baseline shared by all 102 Illinois counties. The price caps.
What to do with this
If you are shopping across a county line, which is common in that part of the Fox Valley, the county the property sits in determines the limit. Not where you work, not where you live now. The subject property county is what IHDA's tables key on.
A buyer looking at both Oswego and a neighbouring Kane County town should know that the same income can pass in one and fail in the other. That is worth knowing before you fall for a house.
See also all four income ladders, the collar counties, and send us both addresses and we will run each.
Frequently asked questions
Which Illinois county has the highest down payment assistance income limit?
Kendall County, at $190,120 for the general IHDA programs effective 7-1-2026. That is $20,020 higher than the $170,100 limit in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will, and $32,480 higher than the $157,640 that applies across most Illinois counties. Kendall sits on its own tier in IHDA's table.
What is the IHDAccess Home income limit in Kendall County?
$135,800 for a one or two person household and $156,170 for three or more, effective 7-1-2026. Both are the highest AccessHome limits in Illinois, sitting $14,300 and $16,445 above the equivalent figures in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. That makes Kendall the easiest Illinois county in which to clear the AccessHome income test.
Does Kendall County have a higher purchase price limit too?
No. The IHDA purchase price cap is $666,354 for a non-targeted one-unit home in Kendall, which is the same figure applied in every Illinois county. IHDA varies income limits by county but prints an identical purchase price limit on every county row. Kendall's conforming loan limit is also the standard $832,750 baseline.
Which county's income limit applies if I am buying across a county line?
The county the subject property is located in. IHDA's limit tables are headed by subject property county, so the address you are buying determines the limit rather than where you currently live or work. A buyer comparing a home in Kendall against one in neighbouring Kane County faces a $20,020 difference in the general income limit on the same income.
What towns are in Kendall County, Illinois?
Kendall County includes Oswego, Yorkville, Plano, Montgomery in part, and Newark, sitting in the Fox Valley south-west of the main collar counties. Any property located in Kendall County uses the Kendall income limits of $190,120 for the general programs, regardless of which nearby town a buyer previously lived in.
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.