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City Report · IL

Zion

Pop. 24,600·98th most expensive in Illinois·Rental market data updated monthly for Zion, IL
Median rent (all units)
$1,507/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-1.3%
vs US Median
-$455
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Zion · $1,507
More affordable than 75% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,507/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$60,000/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
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,540/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,507 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: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$18,084/yr
At $1,507/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, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.
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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 $1,507/mo, how Zion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

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: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Zion is $1,507/mo as of August 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 $1,507/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 $60,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,507/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 August 2026.

How does Zion rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Zion is one of the more affordable cities in Illinois for rent, ranking #98 out of 142 tracked cities at $1,507/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.

How does Zion rent compare to the national average?

Zion's median rent of $1,507/mo is $455 (23%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Illinois, it ranks #98 out of 142 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,507/mo, rent takes ~29% of Zion's median household income ($63,104/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Zion 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.95%
Run the Zion affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Zion
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Zion, IL

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