Fact check: Illinois property taxes are rough.

1. Summary of the results

The statement that "Illinois property taxes are rough" is strongly supported by multiple data points. Illinois has the second-highest property tax rates in the United States ^[1], with homeowners paying a median of $5,055 in 2022, which is more than double the national average of $2,457 ^[1]. The situation is particularly severe in certain areas, with Lake County residents facing the highest tax bills at $8,609 ^[1], and Peoria leading the nation with an effective property tax rate of 2.64% ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• Historical perspective: Property taxes have grown 2.5 times faster than inflation and 14 times faster than the state's population since 1963 ^[3]
• Income impact: Residential property taxes have increased 3.3 times faster than median household incomes, with the property tax burden rising 76% since 1990 ^[3]
• Geographic variation: Six of the top 20 cities with the highest real estate taxes are in Illinois ^[2]
• Recent trends: The average homeowner paid $2,288 more in property taxes during Governor Pritzker's term ^[4]
• Property value context: The median property tax of $3,507 is assessed on homes worth $202,200, representing approximately 1.73% of a property's assessed fair market value annually ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the statement itself isn't misleading, its simplicity understates the severity and complexity of the situation. Several stakeholders have vested interests in this issue:

• Political interests: The reference to Governor Pritzker's term and increased taxes during this period ^[4] suggests political motivations in how this information is presented
• Local governments: As primary beneficiaries of property tax revenue, they have an interest in maintaining high rates
• Property developers and real estate industry: High property taxes affect property values and sales, impacting their business
• Homeowners and residents: Bear the direct financial burden, especially concerning given that taxes have outpaced both inflation and income growth ^[3]

The statement "rough" is actually an understatement given the comprehensive data showing Illinois has some of the most burdensome property taxes in the nation.