Most affordable cities for renters in Illinois
Cities in Illinois ranked by lowest median rent. Includes cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Carbondale ranks first, with a median rent of $673/mo.
- Across all 116 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,920/mo.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
116 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | CarbondaleIL | $673/mo | +4.2% | -- | 25.1% | same |
| 02 | CharlestonIL | $762/mo | 0.0% | -- | 18.5% | -- |
| 03 | DanvilleIL | $883/mo | +1.9% | -- | 23.1% | ↓1 from #2 |
| 04 | East PeoriaIL | $885/mo | 0.0% | -- | 14.8% | -- |
| 05 | PekinIL | $901/mo | 0.0% | -- | 17.8% | -- |
| 06 | Rock IslandIL | $932/mo | +6.2% | -- | 18.9% | ↓3 from #3 |
| 07 | WashingtonIL | $988/mo | 0.0% | -- | 12.5% | -- |
| 08 | AltonIL | $1,003/mo | +6.0% | -- | 22.1% | ↓4 from #4 |
| 09 | Granite CityIL | $1,046/mo | 0.0% | -- | 21.2% | -- |
| 10 | DecaturIL | $1,057/mo | +5.2% | -- | 24.6% | ↓3 from #7 |
| 11 | QuincyIL | $1,059/mo | +8.2% | -- | 22.5% | ↓5 from #6 |
| 12 | MolineIL | $1,090/mo | +2.6% | -- | 19.3% | ↓3 from #9 |
| 13 | MarionIL | $1,113/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.5% | ↓5 from #8 |
| 14 | BellevilleIL | $1,120/mo | +3.2% | +37.4% | 21.2% | ↓4 from #10 |
| 15 | CollinsvilleIL | $1,161/mo | +19.8% | -- | 20.6% | ↓10 from #5 |
| 16 | SpringfieldIL | $1,178/mo | +4.3% | +37.0% | 21.4% | ↓5 from #11 |
| 17 | KankakeeIL | $1,204/mo | +2.6% | -- | 30.4% | ↓4 from #13 |
| 18 | RockfordIL | $1,227/mo | +7.3% | +48.0% | 26.9% | ↓6 from #12 |
| 19 | OttawaIL | $1,238/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.8% | -- |
| 20 | PeoriaIL | $1,240/mo | +3.9% | +44.0% | 25.0% | ↓6 from #14 |
| 21 | BloomingtonIL | $1,270/mo | +5.0% | +44.3% | 19.7% | ↓6 from #15 |
| 22 | Fairview HeightsIL | $1,287/mo | 0.0% | -- | 19.1% | -- |
| 23 | DekalbIL | $1,320/mo | +7.9% | -- | 34.1% | ↓7 from #16 |
| 24 | CiceroIL | $1,322/mo | +1.6% | -- | 22.4% | ↓4 from #20 |
| 25 | UrbanaIL | $1,348/mo | +5.6% | +34.8% | 35.7% | ↓8 from #17 |
| 26 | BourbonnaisIL | $1,381/mo | +7.0% | -- | 20.3% | ↓8 from #18 |
| 27 | NormalIL | $1,390/mo | +4.5% | -- | 25.7% | ↓5 from #22 |
| 28 | ZionIL | $1,396/mo | +1.2% | -- | 26.5% | ↓5 from #23 |
| 29 | MaywoodIL | $1,419/mo | 0.0% | -- | 24.7% | ↓10 from #19 |
| 30 | Blue IslandIL | $1,420/mo | 0.0% | -- | 28.6% | -- |
| 31 | Chicago HeightsIL | $1,463/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.0% | -- |
| 32 | ChampaignIL | $1,466/mo | +4.9% | +37.4% | 31.3% | ↓8 from #24 |
| 33 | WoodstockIL | $1,474/mo | +3.7% | -- | 21.4% | ↓8 from #25 |
| 34 | BerwynIL | $1,485/mo | +2.3% | +30.8% | 22.7% | ↓8 from #26 |
| 35 | BradleyIL | $1,500/mo | 0.0% | -- | 26.7% | -- |
| 36 | AlsipIL | $1,533/mo | +3.8% | -- | 27.6% | ↓8 from #28 |
| 37 | Calumet CityIL | $1,536/mo | +1.0% | -- | 33.3% | ↓8 from #29 |
| 38 | EdwardsvilleIL | $1,588/mo | +7.6% | -- | 22.0% | ↓11 from #27 |
| 39 | Machesney ParkIL | $1,610/mo | +23.8% | -- | 25.6% | ↓18 from #21 |
| 40 | O FallonIL | $1,631/mo | +6.7% | -- | -- | ↓10 from #30 |
| 41 | LansingIL | $1,637/mo | 0.0% | -- | 26.0% | -- |
| 42 | WoodridgeIL | $1,638/mo | +1.6% | -- | 19.5% | ↓10 from #32 |
| 43 | WaukeganIL | $1,660/mo | +2.7% | +36.5% | 27.7% | ↓10 from #33 |
| 44 | JolietIL | $1,675/mo | +6.3% | +39.8% | 21.8% | ↓13 from #31 |
| 45 | Oak LawnIL | $1,717/mo | +3.8% | -- | 24.6% | ↓11 from #34 |
| 46 | Evergreen ParkIL | $1,744/mo | 0.0% | -- | 21.9% | -- |
| 47 | Elmwood ParkIL | $1,811/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.6% | -- |
| 48 | SycamoreIL | $1,811/mo | 0.0% | -- | 25.8% | -- |
| 49 | Elk Grove VillageIL | $1,833/mo | +3.3% | -- | 23.4% | ↓14 from #35 |
| 50 | Mount ProspectIL | $1,835/mo | +1.6% | +33.5% | 21.6% | ↓13 from #37 |