The Illinois rental market
Illinois tracks median rent across 137 cities, ranging from Carbondale at $673/mo to Lake Forest at $3,952/mo. The state average of $1,856/mo runs about 4% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Illinois cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +4.4% over the past year. 67 of 158 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 91 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Chicago, Aurora, Naperville.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 2 of 137 Illinois cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
46 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Lake Forest ($3,952/mo) costs 5.9 times as much as Carbondale ($673/mo).
Across 39 Illinois cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in December and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.7%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 22 of 25 Illinois cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Illinois cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Illinois rent questions
What is the average rent in Illinois?
The average median rent across 137 tracked cities in Illinois is $1,856/mo, about 4% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Illinois city has the highest rent?
Lake Forest has the highest median rent in Illinois at $3,952/mo.
Which Illinois city has the most affordable rent?
Carbondale is the most affordable tracked city in Illinois, with a median rent of $673/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Illinois?
Across Illinois cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +4.4% over the past year.
How does Illinois rent compare to the rest of the country?
67 of 158 tracked Illinois cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 91 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Illinois?
By population, the largest rental markets in Illinois are Chicago, Aurora, Naperville. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.