How much does it cost to rent in Zion, IL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Zion, IL is $1,526. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Zion cheaper than other Illinois cities?

Zion is among the more affordable cities in Illinois, ranking #95 out of 142 cities at $1,526/mo.

When was Zion rent data last updated?

Zion rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Zion a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Zion is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · IL

Zion

Name: Average Rent Prices in Zion, IL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 24,600·95th most expensive in Illinois·Rental market data updated monthly for Zion, IL

Median rent (all units)

$1,526/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-2.6%

vs US Median

-$439

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Zion · $1,526

More affordable than 74% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

29% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,526/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$61,000/yr

Local median income

$63,104/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Zion's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,280

1 BR

$1,360

2 BR

$1,540

3 BR

$1,980

4 BR+

$2,320

Research median

$1,540/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,312/yr

At $1,526/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Zion, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 15.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,600

Median income

$63,104

Median age

32.3

Renters

42.2%

Age distribution

28.5%

25%

24.2%

Under 1828.5%

18–3425%

35–5424.2%

55–6411%

65+11.4%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

32.2%

25.1%

43.7%

White32.2%

Black25.1%

Hispanic43.7%

Asian3%

Education (25+)

15.9%

35.9%

33.1%

15.1%

No HS diploma15.9%

HS diploma35.9%

Some college33.1%

Bachelor's+15.1%

Housing tenure

57.8%

42.2%

Owner57.8%

Renter42.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Zion, IL has changed in 5 years

Income

$58,431 → $63,104

up 8.0%

Population

24,660 → 24,600

down 0.2%

Renter share

42.9% → 42.2%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

16.6% → 15.1%

-1.5 pts

On the earnings side, the typical household in Zion, IL now reports about $63,104, up from $58,431 in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Zion

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View Zion rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Zion on your salary?

At $1,526/mo, how Zion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 19% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 26.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 23.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Zion rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Zion

About renting in Zion, IL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Zion is $1,526/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,280/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,540/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,360/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,980/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($63,104/yr), Zion ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Zion an affordable city for renters?

Zion is considered affordable for renters. At $1,526/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($63,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Zion falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Zion?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,526/mo in Zion. The local median household income is $63,104/yr, meaning the typical Zion household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Zion?

Rent in Zion has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Zion rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Zion is one of the more affordable cities in Illinois for rent, ranking #95 out of 142 tracked cities at $1,526/mo.

What percentage of Zion residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 42.2% of Zion households are renters, while 57.8% are owner-occupied. Zion leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.