How much does it cost to rent in Bloomington, IL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Bloomington, IL is $1,368. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Bloomington cheaper than other Illinois cities?

Bloomington is among the more affordable cities in Illinois, ranking #112 out of 142 cities at $1,368/mo.

When was Bloomington rent data last updated?

Bloomington rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IL

Bloomington

Name: Average Rent Prices in Bloomington, IL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 78,907·112th most expensive in Illinois·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,368/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

-$597

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Bloomington · $1,368

More affordable than 84% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Bloomington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,368/mo

Expected by trend

$1,438/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Bloomington's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$770

1 BR

$840

2 BR

$1,085

3 BR

$1,450

4 BR+

$1,450

Research median

$1,085/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,416/yr

At $1,368/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Bloomington, IL is majority owner-occupied, 48.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

78,907

Median income

$77,384

Median age

36.2

Renters

38.1%

Age distribution

22.5%

25.9%

25.8%

14.7%

Under 1822.5%

18–3425.9%

35–5425.8%

55–6411.2%

65+14.7%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

70.8%

White70.8%

Black10.4%

Hispanic7.3%

Asian8.3%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

20%

26.1%

48.7%

No HS diploma5.1%

HS diploma20%

Some college26.1%

Bachelor's+48.7%

Housing tenure

61.9%

38.1%

Owner61.9%

Renter38.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Bloomington, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$890 → $1,368

up 53.7%

Income

$69,003 → $77,384

up 12.1%

Population

78,372 → 78,907

up 0.7%

Renter share

38.9% → 38.1%

-0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

47.4% → 48.7%

+1.3 pts

Median age

35.4 → 36.2

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Bloomington, IL has climbed 53.7% since 2021, going from about $890 per month to roughly $1,368 today. Median household income grew from $69,003 to $77,384 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.1% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 41.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Bloomington, IL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Bloomington

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View Bloomington rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bloomington on your salary?

At $1,368/mo, how Bloomington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 17% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 24% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 20.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 11.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 9.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 25.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 28.4% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

By apartment size

Bloomington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bloomington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bloomington

About renting in Bloomington, IL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Bloomington is $1,368/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,085/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,450/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($77,384/yr), Bloomington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Bloomington an affordable city for renters?

Bloomington is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,368/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($77,384/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Bloomington falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Bloomington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,368/mo in Bloomington. The local median household income is $77,384/yr, meaning the typical Bloomington household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Bloomington?

Rent in Bloomington has increased 4.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Bloomington neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Bloomington are 61701 ($1,113/mo), and 61704 ($1,537/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Bloomington is $1,368/mo.

How does Bloomington rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Bloomington is one of the more affordable cities in Illinois for rent, ranking #112 out of 142 tracked cities at $1,368/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bloomington?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Bloomington ($1,368/mo): Decatur ($1,019/mo), Washington ($1,324/mo).

What percentage of Bloomington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 38.1% of Bloomington households are renters, while 61.9% are owner-occupied. Bloomington leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Bloomington rent compare to the national average?

Bloomington's median rent of $1,368/mo is $597 (30%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Illinois, it ranks #112 out of 142 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

21%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,368/mo, rent takes ~21% of Bloomington's median household income ($77,384/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Bloomington 21%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.95%

Run the Bloomington affordability calculator →

Nearby cities