City Report · IL

Round Lake

Pop. 18,628·12th most expensive in Illinois·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,533/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+6.7%
vs US Median
+$601
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Round Lake · $2,533
More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,533/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$101,000/yr
Local median income
$111,977/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Round Lake's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,590
1 BR
$1,700
2 BR
$1,920
3 BR
$2,470
4 BR+
$2,900
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,920/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,533 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 ($111,977) is $2,799 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,470); a 4-bedroom is $2,900.

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

Annual cost
$30,396/yr
At $2,533/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +6.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Round Lake, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 41.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,628
Median income
$111,977
Median age
36.1
Renters
22.8%
Age distribution
28.2%
19.9%
33.9%
Under 1828.2%
18–3419.9%
35–5433.9%
55–649%
65+8.9%
Gender
48.5%
51.5%
Male48.5%
Female51.5%
Race & ethnicity
49.7%
35.8%
12.3%
White49.7%
Black4.1%
Hispanic35.8%
Asian12.3%
Education (25+)
12.2%
22.2%
24.1%
41.5%
No HS diploma12.2%
HS diploma22.2%
Some college24.1%
Bachelor's+41.5%
Housing tenure
77.2%
22.8%
Owner77.2%
Renter22.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Round Lake, IL has changed in 5 years

Income
$86,451 → $111,977
up 29.5%
Population
18,720 → 18,628
down 0.5%
Renter share
24.2% → 22.8%
-1.4 pts
Bachelor's+
37.9% → 41.5%
+3.6 pts
Median age
37 → 36.1
-0.9 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $86,451 to $111,977 across the same window, up 29.5% versus 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 37.9% to 41.5%.

Community

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View Round Lake rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Round Lake on your salary?

At $2,533/mo, how Round Lake rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Round Lake rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Round Lake

About renting in Round Lake, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Round Lake is $2,533/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,590/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,920/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,700/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,470/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($111,977/yr), Round Lake ranks as affordable 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 Round Lake?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $101,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,533/mo in Round Lake. The local median household income is $111,977/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Round Lake?

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

How does Round Lake rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Round Lake is one of the pricier among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #12 of 137 tracked cities at $2,533/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Round Lake?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Round Lake ($2,533/mo) include Antioch ($2,011/mo), Round Lake Beach ($2,116/mo), and Libertyville ($2,206/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,533/mo, rent takes ~27% of Round Lake's median household income ($111,977/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Round Lake 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.95%
Run the Round Lake affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Round Lake, IL

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