At $1,420/mo, rent takes about 29% 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 $1,420 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
30% of the median household income ($59,489) is $1,487 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,340); a 3-bedroom is $1,720.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Blue Island. 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
Blue Island, IL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 20.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Blue Island, IL has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $51,989 in 2021 to $59,489 more recently. Census counts show Blue Island, IL losing about 1,193 residents over the five-year window, down 5.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 49.7% to 48.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.2% to 20.7% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Blue Island on your salary?
At $1,420/mo, how Blue Island rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Blue Island rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Blue Island. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Blue Island
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Blue Island is $1,420/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,110/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,340/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,190/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,720/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($59,489/yr), Blue Island ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Blue Island?
Is rent going up or down in Blue Island?
How does Blue Island rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Blue Island?
At $1,420/mo, rent takes ~29% of Blue Island's median household income ($59,489/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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