Rents are right about where Oak Lawn'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 $1,717 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 Oak Lawn is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in Oak Lawn changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($83,911) is $2,098 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,090); a 4-bedroom is $2,460.
Chicago Ridge, 2 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,544/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oak Lawn. 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
Oak Lawn, IL is majority owner-occupied, 31.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Oak Lawn, IL has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Oak Lawn, IL has increased from $1,447 to $1,717, a 18.7% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Oak Lawn, IL now reports about $83,911, up from $70,787 in 2021. The population has contracted by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 58,032 residents to roughly 56,861. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Oak Lawn, IL reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Oak Lawn on your salary?
At $1,717/mo, how Oak Lawn rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Oak Lawn rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Oak Lawn. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Oak Lawn
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Oak Lawn is $1,717/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,350/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,630/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,440/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,090/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($83,911/yr), Oak Lawn ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Oak Lawn?
Is rent going up or down in Oak Lawn?
How does Oak Lawn rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oak Lawn?
At $1,717/mo, rent takes ~25% of Oak Lawn's median household income ($83,911/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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