Lena, IL housing market
The typical Lena home is worth about $213,000, up 10.1% in a year, 28% below the Illinois typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Lena compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Lena at a glance
Only 2 sales in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Lena | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $99,000 | $181,000 |
| 2018 | $99,000 | $190,000 |
| 2019 | $112,000 | $195,000 |
| 2020 | $120,000 | $200,000 |
| 2021 | $130,000 | $215,000 |
| 2022 | $151,000 | $236,000 |
| 2023 | $161,000 | $248,000 |
| 2024 | $170,000 | $263,000 |
| 2025 | $187,000 | $278,000 |
| 2026 | $207,000 | $290,000 |
| August 2026 | $213,000 | $298,000 |
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in Lena in 2025. The last year with any was 2023 (1 new home).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Lena's population fell by 140 even though 9 new homes were permitted. Homes are holding fewer people: households are getting smaller, or more homes are used part of the year.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $303,000 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $250,000 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $350,000 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $125,000 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $421,000 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $335,000 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $240,000 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $483,000 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2006 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $596,000 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $690,000 |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1 million |
| 2003 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $860,000 |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $582,000 |
| 2001 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $224,000 |
| 2000 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $325,000 |
How Lena ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Lena and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lena | $213K | +10.1% | $920 | 0 | $72,663 |
| Erin | — | +10.9%† | $920 | — | $84,688 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
2.9 years of income
The typical Lena home costs about 2.9 years of the town's median household income, less than across Illinois (3.6 years).
How Lena ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $920
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Lena is $920 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Lena pay a median of $664, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 15% of the town's median household income.
Studio $690 · 4 bedrooms $1,340
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (61048; Jo Daviess County, IL), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Lena
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.