Rents are 5% below what Elmhurst'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 $2,453 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
December. Asking rents in Elmhurst usually run 1.7% below trend in December and 1.7% above it in July, about $83 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Elmhurst is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.
Rent in Elmhurst changed +3.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent in Elmhurst is 44.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($149,644) is $3,741 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,490).
Bensenville, 4 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,871/mo), about $7,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Elmhurst. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Elmhurst, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 64.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Elmhurst, IL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Elmhurst, IL stood at $1,804 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,453, reflecting a 36.0% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Elmhurst, IL now reports about $149,644, up from $128,355 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 64.2% of adults here, versus 62.1% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Elmhurst, IL reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,453/mo, how Elmhurst rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Elmhurst rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Elmhurst. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Elmhurst
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Elmhurst is $2,453/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,970/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($149,644/yr), Elmhurst ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $2,453/mo, rent takes ~20% of Elmhurst's median household income ($149,644/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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