Rents are 3% below what Downers Grove's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,248 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 Downers Grove is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Downers Grove changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($115,114) is $2,878 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,670); a 4-bedroom is $3,140.
Westmont, 3 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,871/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Downers Grove. 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
Downers Grove, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 58.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Downers Grove, IL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Downers Grove, IL has climbed by $446 per month, settling near $2,248 after starting the period at $1,802. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $105,217 in 2021 to $115,114 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Downers Grove, IL market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Downers Grove on your salary?
At $2,248/mo, how Downers Grove rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Downers Grove rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Downers Grove. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Downers Grove
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Downers Grove is $2,248/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,080/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,670/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($115,114/yr), Downers Grove ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Downers Grove?
Is rent going up or down in Downers Grove?
How does Downers Grove rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $2,248/mo, rent takes ~23% of Downers Grove's median household income ($115,114/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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