City Report · IL

Grayslake

Pop. 20,929·30th most expensive in Illinois·Rental market data updated monthly for Grayslake, IL
Median rent (all units)
$2,317/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.3%
vs US Median
+$385
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Grayslake · $2,317
More expensive than 74% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,317/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$93,000/yr
Local median income
$113,972/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Grayslake's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,630
1 BR
$1,740
2 BR
$1,970
3 BR
$2,530
4 BR+
$2,970
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,970/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,317 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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($113,972) is $2,849 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,530); a 4-bedroom is $2,970.

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

Annual cost
$27,804/yr
At $2,317/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Grayslake, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 58.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
20,929
Median income
$113,972
Median age
37.2
Renters
21.8%
Age distribution
23.5%
23.9%
24.9%
13.7%
14.1%
Under 1823.5%
18–3423.9%
35–5424.9%
55–6413.7%
65+14.1%
Gender
51.6%
48.4%
Male51.6%
Female48.4%
Race & ethnicity
74.9%
White74.9%
Black8.6%
Hispanic10.2%
Asian5.2%
Other1%
Education (25+)
13.3%
25.3%
58.5%
No HS diploma3%
HS diploma13.3%
Some college25.3%
Bachelor's+58.5%
Housing tenure
78.2%
21.8%
Owner78.2%
Renter21.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Grayslake, IL has changed in 5 years

Income
$109,975 → $113,972
up 3.6%
Population
20,827 → 20,929
up 0.5%
Renter share
26.3% → 21.8%
-4.5 pts
Bachelor's+
59.7% → 58.5%
-1.2 pts
Median age
37.7 → 37.2
-0.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Grayslake, IL now reports about $113,972, up from $109,975 in 2021. The renter share has eased from 26.3% to 21.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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View Grayslake rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Grayslake on your salary?

At $2,317/mo, how Grayslake rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Grayslake rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Grayslake

About renting in Grayslake, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Grayslake is $2,317/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,630/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,970/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,740/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,530/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($113,972/yr), Grayslake ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Grayslake?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $93,000/year (about $45/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,317/mo in Grayslake. The local median household income is $113,972/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Grayslake?

Rent in Grayslake has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Grayslake rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Grayslake is one of the pricier among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #30 of 137 tracked cities at $2,317/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Grayslake?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Grayslake ($2,317/mo) include Gurnee ($1,944/mo), Round Lake Beach ($2,116/mo), and Libertyville ($2,206/mo).
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,317/mo, rent takes ~24% of Grayslake's median household income ($113,972/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Grayslake 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.95%
Run the Grayslake affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Grayslake, IL

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