Rents are 6% below what Normal'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 $1,390 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 Normal is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Normal changed +4.5% 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 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,785) is $1,620 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,390).
Washington, 27 miles away, rents for 29% less ($988/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Normal. 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
Normal, IL is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 52.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Normal, IL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Normal, IL has climbed by $365 per month, settling near $1,390 after starting the period at $1,025. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $58,564 in 2021 to $64,785 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.0 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 Normal, IL market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Normal on your salary?
At $1,390/mo, how Normal rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Normal rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Normal. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Normal
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Normal is $1,390/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,010/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $790/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,390/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($64,785/yr), Normal ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Normal?
Is rent going up or down in Normal?
How does Normal rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Normal?
At $1,390/mo, rent takes ~26% of Normal's median household income ($64,785/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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