City Report · IL

Deerfield

Pop. 19,518·6th most expensive in Illinois·Deerfield rents are up 6.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,789/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$857

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Deerfield · $2,789

More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

18% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,789/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$112,000/yr

Local median income

$181,660/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Deerfield's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,190

1 BR

$2,340

2 BR

$2,640

3 BR

$3,390

4 BR+

$3,980

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,640/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,789 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in Deerfield changed +6.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($181,660) is $4,542 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,980).

Cheaper nearby

Wheeling, 4 miles away, rents for 28% less ($2,009/mo), about $9,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Deerfield. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,468/yr

At $2,789/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.5% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Deerfield, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 82.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,518

Median income

$181,660

Median age

44.5

Renters

17.5%

Age distribution

24.4%

14%

27.7%

14%

19.8%

Under 1824.4%

18–3414%

35–5427.7%

55–6414%

65+19.8%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

89.4%

White89.4%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian5.6%

Education (25+)

12.8%

82.1%

No HS diploma1.3%

HS diploma3.8%

Some college12.8%

Bachelor's+82.1%

Housing tenure

82.5%

17.5%

Owner82.5%

Renter17.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Deerfield, IL has changed in 5 years

Income

$168,568 → $181,660

up 7.8%

Population

19,228 → 19,518

up 1.5%

Renter share

18.1% → 17.5%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

81.5% → 82.1%

+0.6 pts

Census figures show median household income at $181,660 today, compared with $168,568 five years earlier. The population has grown by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 19,228 residents to roughly 19,518.

Community

Discussions about Deerfield

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View Deerfield rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Deerfield on your salary?

At $2,789/mo, how Deerfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 34.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 48.9% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 42.5% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 23.8% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 18.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 52.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 57.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 46.9% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Deerfield rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Deerfield

About renting in Deerfield, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Deerfield is $2,789/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,340/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,390/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($181,660/yr), Deerfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Deerfield?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $112,000/year (about $54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,789/mo in Deerfield. The local median household income is $181,660/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Deerfield?

Rent in Deerfield has risen 6.5% over the past year.

How does Deerfield rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Deerfield is one of the pricier among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #6 of 137 tracked cities at $2,789/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Deerfield changed +6.5%, against a typical +4.0% across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks.