At $1,200/mo, rent takes about 17% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,200 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: May 18, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($82,551) is $2,064 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,640).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Highland. 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
Highland, IL is majority owner-occupied, 35.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Highland, IL has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $69,442 to $82,551 across the same window, up 18.9% versus 2021. About 27.3% of households rent today, against 34.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.4% to 35.8%.
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Can you afford rent in Highland on your salary?
At $1,200/mo, how Highland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Highland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Highland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Highland
Last updated: May 18, 2026
The median rent in Highland is $1,200/mo as of May 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,410/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($82,551/yr), Highland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Highland?
How does Highland rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Highland?
At $1,200/mo, rent takes ~17% of Highland's median household income ($82,551/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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