Most expensive cities for renters in Illinois
Cities in Illinois ranked by highest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Lake Forest ranks first, with a median rent of $3,952/mo.
- Across all 116 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,920/mo.
- Niles moved from #40 to #23 compared with a year ago.
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 | Lake ForestIL | $3,952/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.2% | -- |
| 02 | WilmetteIL | $3,794/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.9% | -- |
| 03 | Highland ParkIL | $3,147/mo | +6.4% | -- | 22.5% | ↓2 from #1 |
| 04 | PlainfieldIL | $3,027/mo | +2.8% | +35.8% | 25.2% | ↓2 from #2 |
| 05 | NorthbrookIL | $3,014/mo | +4.8% | +36.9% | 22.9% | ↓2 from #3 |
| 06 | DeerfieldIL | $2,789/mo | +6.5% | -- | 18.4% | ↓2 from #4 |
| 07 | BolingbrookIL | $2,742/mo | +4.7% | +37.0% | 30.4% | ↓2 from #5 |
| 08 | Orland ParkIL | $2,713/mo | +4.5% | -- | 32.9% | ↓2 from #6 |
| 09 | GlenviewIL | $2,601/mo | +2.2% | +32.2% | 21.8% | ↓2 from #7 |
| 10 | Vernon HillsIL | $2,587/mo | +3.7% | +31.2% | 25.5% | ↓2 from #8 |
| 11 | Round LakeIL | $2,533/mo | 0.0% | -- | 27.1% | -- |
| 12 | Morton GroveIL | $2,532/mo | +9.0% | -- | 27.3% | ↑6 from #18 |
| 13 | StreamwoodIL | $2,490/mo | +5.1% | -- | 29.5% | ↓2 from #11 |
| 14 | ElmhurstIL | $2,453/mo | +3.9% | +27.9% | 19.7% | ↓1 from #13 |
| 15 | OswegoIL | $2,447/mo | +1.4% | -- | 23.7% | ↓6 from #9 |
| 16 | North AuroraIL | $2,442/mo | 0.0% | -- | 25.6% | -- |
| 17 | EvanstonIL | $2,438/mo | +3.6% | +32.7% | 30.3% | ↓2 from #15 |
| 18 | La GrangeIL | $2,438/mo | +4.5% | -- | 18.3% | ↓2 from #16 |
| 19 | Park RidgeIL | $2,433/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.4% | -- |
| 20 | Buffalo GroveIL | $2,403/mo | +0.2% | -- | 22.3% | ↓10 from #10 |
| 21 | MontgomeryIL | $2,403/mo | 0.0% | -- | 27.8% | -- |
| 22 | DarienIL | $2,388/mo | +2.8% | -- | 25.8% | ↓5 from #17 |
| 23 | NilesIL | $2,383/mo | 0.0% | -- | 38.0% | ↑17 from #40 |
| 24 | WheatonIL | $2,375/mo | +0.3% | +30.6% | 23.7% | ↓12 from #12 |
| 25 | SkokieIL | $2,371/mo | +5.1% | +35.3% | 29.8% | ↓5 from #20 |
| 26 | MundeleinIL | $2,327/mo | +2.2% | -- | 25.8% | ↓7 from #19 |
| 27 | DoltonIL | $2,327/mo | -1.3% | -- | 48.2% | ↓13 from #14 |
| 28 | GrayslakeIL | $2,317/mo | 0.0% | -- | 24.4% | -- |
| 29 | ChicagoIL | $2,311/mo | +5.8% | +34.8% | 35.6% | ↓4 from #25 |
| 30 | CarpentersvilleIL | $2,297/mo | +6.6% | -- | 31.7% | ↓3 from #27 |
| 31 | AuroraIL | $2,294/mo | +3.0% | +33.0% | 29.4% | ↓9 from #22 |
| 32 | BloomingdaleIL | $2,286/mo | 0.0% | -- | 26.7% | -- |
| 33 | Downers GroveIL | $2,248/mo | +4.0% | -- | 23.4% | ↓7 from #26 |
| 34 | NapervilleIL | $2,236/mo | +2.0% | +27.2% | 17.3% | ↓11 from #23 |
| 35 | LockportIL | $2,213/mo | +1.2% | +37.9% | 23.7% | ↓11 from #24 |
| 36 | RoselleIL | $2,211/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.8% | -- |
| 37 | LibertyvilleIL | $2,206/mo | 0.0% | -- | 16.0% | ↓16 from #21 |
| 38 | Glen EllynIL | $2,195/mo | 0.0% | -- | 18.7% | -- |
| 39 | MattesonIL | $2,192/mo | 0.0% | -- | 27.6% | -- |
| 40 | Lake in the HillsIL | $2,188/mo | +4.0% | -- | 22.4% | ↓12 from #28 |
| 41 | SchaumburgIL | $2,125/mo | +4.0% | +34.0% | 26.2% | ↓11 from #30 |
| 42 | Round Lake BeachIL | $2,116/mo | +2.1% | -- | 29.5% | ↓13 from #29 |
| 43 | LombardIL | $2,094/mo | +2.9% | +23.2% | 25.0% | ↓11 from #32 |
| 44 | BrookfieldIL | $2,086/mo | 0.0% | -- | 22.7% | -- |
| 45 | Des PlainesIL | $2,079/mo | +6.4% | +33.6% | 25.5% | ↓9 from #36 |
| 46 | RomeovilleIL | $2,073/mo | +1.6% | +23.5% | 23.4% | ↓15 from #31 |
| 47 | Rolling MeadowsIL | $2,061/mo | +6.3% | -- | 25.1% | ↓9 from #38 |
| 48 | YorkvilleIL | $2,058/mo | 0.0% | -- | 22.8% | -- |
| 49 | Oak ParkIL | $2,044/mo | +5.3% | +27.0% | 22.1% | ↓12 from #37 |
| 50 | Hoffman EstatesIL | $2,039/mo | +3.9% | +35.0% | 22.9% | ↓15 from #35 |