City Report · IL

Wood River

Pop. 10,279·120th most expensive in Illinois·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,156/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.8%
vs US Median
-$776
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Wood River · $1,156
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,156/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$62,703/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Wood River's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$840
1 BR
$880
2 BR
$1,090
3 BR
$1,410
4 BR+
$1,640
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,090/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,156 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 ($62,703) is $1,568 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,410); a 4-bedroom is $1,640.

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

Annual cost
$13,872/yr
At $1,156/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, +1.8% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Wood River, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 15.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,279
Median income
$62,703
Median age
40.3
Renters
33.2%
Age distribution
19.2%
25.1%
23.8%
15.5%
16.5%
Under 1819.2%
18–3425.1%
35–5423.8%
55–6415.5%
65+16.5%
Gender
51.9%
48.1%
Male51.9%
Female48.1%
Race & ethnicity
87.1%
White87.1%
Black5.1%
Hispanic4%
Other3.7%
Education (25+)
41.6%
37.1%
15.5%
No HS diploma5.7%
HS diploma41.6%
Some college37.1%
Bachelor's+15.5%
Housing tenure
66.8%
33.2%
Owner66.8%
Renter33.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Wood River, IL has changed in 5 years

Income
$58,065 → $62,703
up 8.0%
Population
10,325 → 10,279
down 0.4%
Renter share
29.9% → 33.2%
+3.3 pts
Bachelor's+
14.2% → 15.5%
+1.3 pts
Median age
35.9 → 40.3
+4.4 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $58,065 to $62,703 across the same window, up 8.0% versus 2021. The renter share has risen from 29.9% to 33.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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View Wood River rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Wood River on your salary?

At $1,156/mo, how Wood River rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Wood River rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Wood River

About renting in Wood River, IL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Wood River is $1,156/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,410/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($62,703/yr), Wood River 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 Wood River?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,156/mo in Wood River. The local median household income is $62,703/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Wood River?

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

How does Wood River rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Wood River is one of the more affordable among Illinois cities for rent, ranking #120 of 137 tracked cities at $1,156/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wood River?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Wood River ($1,156/mo) include East Alton ($900/mo), Alton ($1,003/mo), and Bethalto ($1,083/mo).
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,156/mo, rent takes ~22% of Wood River's median household income ($62,703/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Wood River 22%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.95%
Run the Wood River affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Wood River, IL

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