City Report · IL

Riverdale

Pop. 10,340·115th most expensive in Illinois·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,233/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.5%
vs US Median
-$699
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Riverdale · $1,233
More affordable than 91% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
37% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,233/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$49,000/yr
Local median income
$39,833/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Riverdale's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,190
1 BR
$1,280
2 BR
$1,440
3 BR
$1,850
4 BR+
$2,170
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,440/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,233 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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($39,833) is $996 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,190).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Riverdale. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$14,796/yr
At $1,233/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Riverdale, IL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 17% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,340
Median income
$39,833
Median age
32.8
Renters
48.5%
Age distribution
32.2%
21.2%
21.7%
13.6%
Under 1832.2%
18–3421.2%
35–5421.7%
55–6413.6%
65+11.3%
Gender
49%
51%
Male49%
Female51%
Race & ethnicity
89.9%
White0.6%
Black89.9%
Hispanic7.1%
Other2.2%
Education (25+)
34.8%
38.1%
17%
No HS diploma10.2%
HS diploma34.8%
Some college38.1%
Bachelor's+17%
Housing tenure
51.5%
48.5%
Owner51.5%
Renter48.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Riverdale, IL has changed in 5 years

Income
$38,233 → $39,833
up 4.2%
Population
10,909 → 10,340
down 5.2%
Renter share
54.6% → 48.5%
-6.1 pts
Bachelor's+
15.9% → 17%
+1.1 pts

Household income in the area moved from $38,233 to $39,833 across the same window, up 4.2% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 10,909 to 10,340 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.2% change. About 48.5% of households rent today, against 54.6% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Riverdale

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View Riverdale rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Riverdale on your salary?

At $1,233/mo, how Riverdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Riverdale rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Riverdale

About renting in Riverdale, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Riverdale is $1,233/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,440/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($39,833/yr), Riverdale ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Riverdale?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $49,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,233/mo in Riverdale. The local median household income is $39,833/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Riverdale?

Rent in Riverdale has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Riverdale rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Riverdale is one of the more affordable among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #115 of 137 tracked cities at $1,233/mo.
Income Affordability
37%
MODERATE

At $1,233/mo, rent takes ~37% of Riverdale's median household income ($39,833/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Riverdale 37%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.95%
Run the Riverdale affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Riverdale, IL

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