Rents are 10% below what Wheaton's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,174 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Wheaton, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 64.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wheaton, IL has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Wheaton, IL stood at $1,686 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,174, reflecting a 28.9% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $108,737 to $120,008 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.4% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 28.3% of households, compared with 26.2% five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in Wheaton, IL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Wheaton on your salary?
At $2,174/mo, how Wheaton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wheaton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wheaton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wheaton
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Wheaton is $2,174/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,775/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,145/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,900/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,755/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($120,008/yr), Wheaton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Wheaton residents rent vs. own?
How does Wheaton rent compare to the national average?
At $2,174/mo, rent takes ~22% of Wheaton's median household income ($120,008/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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