At $1,003/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,003 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Alton changed +6.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($54,568) is $1,364 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,120); a 3-bedroom is $1,450.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Alton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Alton, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 21.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Alton, IL has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $45,225 to $54,568 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.7% shift. Census counts show Alton, IL losing about 623 residents over the five-year window, down 2.4% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 19.4% to 21.5% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Alton on your salary?
At $1,003/mo, how Alton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Alton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Alton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Alton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Alton is $1,003/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,120/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $910/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,450/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($54,568/yr), Alton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Alton?
How does Alton rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Alton?
At $1,003/mo, rent takes ~22% of Alton's median household income ($54,568/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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