City Report · IL

Oak Park

Pop. 53,292·55th most expensive in Illinois·Oak Park rents are up 5.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,044/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$112

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Oak Park · $2,044

More expensive than 63% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

37/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% above what Oak Park's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,044/mo

Expected by trend

$1,919/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Oak Park's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,683

1 BR

$1,797

2 BR

$2,030

3 BR

$2,607

4 BR+

$3,063

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,030/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,044 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

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in Oak Park usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in May, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Oak Park is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in Oak Park changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Oak Park rose 22% while median household income rose 17.1% ($94,646 to $110,820). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Oak Park is 31.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($110,820) is $2,771 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,607); a 4-bedroom is $3,063.

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Oak Park, 60301 ($2,315/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 60304 ($1,539/mo).

Cheaper nearby

Forest Park, 2 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,527/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oak Park. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$24,528/yr

At $2,044/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.3% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Oak Park, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 72.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

53,292

Median income

$110,820

Median age

40.3

Renters

40%

Age distribution

23.9%

17.7%

29.2%

17.7%

Under 1823.9%

18–3417.7%

35–5429.2%

55–6411.5%

65+17.7%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

63%

17.9%

White63%

Black17.9%

Hispanic9.3%

Asian5.4%

Other4.3%

Education (25+)

16.4%

72.5%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma8.7%

Some college16.4%

Bachelor's+72.5%

Housing tenure

60%

40%

Owner60%

Renter40%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Oak Park, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,551 → $2,044

up 31.8%

Income

$98,081 → $110,820

up 13.0%

Population

54,100 → 53,292

down 1.5%

Renter share

40.1% → 40%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

72% → 72.5%

+0.5 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in Oak Park, IL has climbed from $1,551 to $2,044, a 31.8% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $98,081 in 2021 to $110,820 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 54,100 residents to roughly 53,292. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Oak Park, IL market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Oak Park

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View Oak Park rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Oak Park on your salary?

At $2,044/mo, how Oak Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 25.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 35.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 17.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 42.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Oak Park rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Oak Park

About renting in Oak Park, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Oak Park is $2,044/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,683/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,797/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,607/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($110,820/yr), Oak Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Oak Park?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $82,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,044/mo in Oak Park. The local median household income is $110,820/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Oak Park?

Rent in Oak Park has risen 5.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Oak Park?

Asking rents in Oak Park are usually lowest in December, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $51 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Oak Park?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Oak Park rose 22% while median household income rose 17.1%, from $94,646 to $110,820. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Oak Park neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Oak Park are 60304 ($1,539/mo), 60302 ($1,952/mo), and 60301 ($2,315/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,044/mo.

How does Oak Park rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Oak Park is in the middle among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #55 of 137 tracked cities at $2,044/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Oak Park changed +5.3%, against a typical +4.0% across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks.