Rents are right about where Springfield'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 $1,178 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
January. Asking rents in Springfield usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in June, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Springfield is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in Springfield changed +4.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Springfield rose 39.3% while median household income rose 20.9% ($54,648 to $66,064). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Springfield is 49.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($66,064) is $1,652 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,515).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Springfield. 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.
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Who lives here
Springfield, IL is majority owner-occupied, 36.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Springfield, IL has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Springfield, IL paid around $820 a month. That figure now sits near $1,178, up 43.7% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $66,064 today, compared with $57,596 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Springfield, IL losing about 1,342 residents over the five-year window, down 1.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 37.8% to 35.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Springfield on your salary?
At $1,178/mo, how Springfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Springfield rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Springfield. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Springfield
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Springfield is $1,178/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,095/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $890/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,480/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($66,064/yr), Springfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,178/mo, rent takes ~21% of Springfield's median household income ($66,064/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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