Rents are 6% above what Rockford's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,195 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: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Rockford usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in August, about $22 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Rockford is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Rockford changed +7.5% over the year to August 2026. Across the 92 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Rockford rose 48.9% while median household income rose 23.7% ($44,252 to $54,752). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Rockford is 68.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 36.8% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($54,752) is $1,369 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,132); a 3-bedroom is $1,496.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Rockford, 61108 ($1,459/mo), costs 28% more than the cheapest, 61104 ($1,139/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Rockford. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Rockford, IL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 23.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Rockford, IL has changed in 5 years
Rent in Rockford, IL has increased 50.7% since 2021, going from about $793 per month to roughly $1,195 today. Household income in the area moved from $47,002 to $54,752 across the same window, up 16.5% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 34.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 148,942 to 147,521 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.0% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Rockford, IL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Rockford
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Rockford on your salary?
At $1,195/mo, how Rockford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Rockford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Rockford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Rockford
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Rockford is $1,195/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $778/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,132/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $866/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,496/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($54,752/yr), Rockford ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Rockford?
Is rent going up or down in Rockford?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Rockford?
Has rent outpaced income in Rockford?
Which Rockford neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Rockford rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $1,195/mo, rent takes ~26% of Rockford's median household income ($54,752/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Rockford.
No discussions yet.