The 2024 reassessment of Chicago shook all of Cook County and Illinois as a whole. Targeting Chicago itself, this leg of the triennial reassessment saw record increases in both property values and taxes. Coupled with the devastating results from 2023, the 2024 outing was so severe that it pushed legislators across the state to action. Even the head of the Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) encouraged diligence and even property tax appeals to bring things under control. One of the largest victims of the 2024 reassessment was the township of West Chicago. Home values soared 21% collectively, while commercial property jumped a dazzling 34%. This was a blow to both home and business owners and instilled in the minds of many taxpayers that they had to do something in the future to protect themselves. In 2025, assessments are again showing an increase, albeit a tiny one relative to 2024. This... Read More

The 2023 reassessment of Chicago’s southern and western suburbs was one for the history books and one that has left a lasting legacy across all of Cook County. This was the event that brought property hikes and questions about the competency of the Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) to the forefront. When the numbers began to be known publicly, taxpayers across the Chicago area were terrified. Average increases of 50% for residential properties, with some individual homes seeing jumps of 500% or even 700%. Some neighborhoods and townships saw figures that were certain to cause mass gentrification. The outrage was felt beyond these areas, and a demand for accountability and change swept through Cook County and Illinois. Various legislative means were tried, but all failed due to political infighting. All the while, the other two thirds of Cook County knew that they were on borrowed time, as they would face... Read More

Aurora is the most populous township in Kane County and one of the biggest in Illinois. Becoming something of a capital for the collar counties surrounding Chicago, Aurora embodies the growing hybridization of suburbia and urban development. Armed with all the amenities of a big city and tinged with a suburban feel, Aurora is attracting more residents and businesses than ever before and is becoming an economic powerhouse. This success and the proximity to Cook County has not been all wine and roses, however, and Aurora Township is beginning to see a huge impact from rising property values. While some increase is evidence of healthy economic growth, there have been many spikes in the region that are above inflation and the expectations of experts. This means that the Aurora Township Assessor could be overvaluing properties in an attempt to raise revenues. The only way to counter these aggressive policies is... Read More

Cook County boasts some of the highest property taxes in the United States, thanks to a litany of issues that we have discussed before. Armed with their triennial reassessment, the Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) hands out higher tax values and bills every year, just as school districts, pensions, and other government bodies raise tax rates. With the equalization factor added to the mix, property taxes are the ultimate assassin for wallets across Cook County. Unlike countless other townships in Cook County, Palos has been spared the worst of the property value hikes that have struck the rest of the state. In 2024, residential values only increased by 0.5%. This number did not rapidly increase in 2025 either, reaching only 1% growth. These halcyon days are about to end, however, as reassessment is set for 2026. This has historically brought value hikes as high as 30% or more. The best... Read More

Barrington Township is quickly becoming one of the wealthiest areas in the United States. As a prosperous suburb of Chicago, Barrington’s various towns and villages feature some of the most exclusive properties in Cook County and the demand to live in the township is at an all-time high. With high demand is great for those trying to sell their homes, it can be a hurdle for those that wish to stay, as the increasing value means higher property taxes. This is complicated further by Illinois already having some of the highest taxes in the nation. The triennial reassessment by the Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) is now hitting the township, meaning values are going through the roof. Residential property has seen an overall value increase of 33%, while commercial properties are up a staggering 47%. The only way to lower these values and the ensuing taxes is to utilize a... Read More