At $2,388/mo, rent takes about 26% 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 $2,388 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 Darien changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($111,215) is $2,780 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,210); a 3-bedroom is $2,840.
Willowbrook, 3 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,090/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Darien. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Darien, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 52.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Darien, IL has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $111,215 today, compared with $104,226 five years earlier. About 21.2% of households rent today, against 19.4% in 2021.
Discussions about Darien
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Darien on your salary?
At $2,388/mo, how Darien rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Darien rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Darien. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Darien
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Darien is $2,388/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,830/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,840/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($111,215/yr), Darien ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Darien?
Is rent going up or down in Darien?
How does Darien rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $2,388/mo, rent takes ~26% of Darien's median household income ($111,215/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Darien.
No discussions yet.