Rents are right about where Gurnee's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,944 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 Gurnee is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Gurnee changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($119,628) is $2,991 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,970).
Waukegan, 4 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,660/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gurnee. 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
Gurnee, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 56.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gurnee, IL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Gurnee, IL stood at $1,600 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,944, reflecting a 21.5% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $102,140 to $119,628 across the same window, up 17.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.0% since 2021, moving from about 30,826 residents to roughly 30,510. Renters now make up 23.9% of households, compared with 28.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 56.7% of adults here, versus 53.4% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Gurnee, IL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Gurnee on your salary?
At $1,944/mo, how Gurnee rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gurnee rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gurnee. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gurnee
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gurnee is $1,944/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 20% of local median household income ($119,628/yr), Gurnee ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Gurnee?
Is rent going up or down in Gurnee?
How does Gurnee rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $1,944/mo, rent takes ~20% of Gurnee's median household income ($119,628/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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