ZIP Code · IL

ZIP 60085

Part of Waukegan, IL

Pop. 72,341·Lake County·137th most expensive ZIP in Illinois

Median rent (all units)

$1,710/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.5%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$222

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 60085 · $1,710

More affordable than 57% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,280

1 BR

$1,370

2 BR

$1,540

3 BR

$1,980

4 BR+

$2,290

Research median

$1,540/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 60085 is 0.2% below its high of $1,713 in August 2026, at $1,710 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in ZIP 60085 changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.7%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($66,793) is $1,670 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,540); a 3-bedroom is $1,980.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 60099, 7 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,422/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 60085. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$20,520/yr

At $1,710/mo median

Location

CityWaukegan

StateIL

CountyLake County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.5% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 60085 (Waukegan, IL) is roughly split between renters and owners, 18.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

72,341

Median income

$66,793

Median age

34.6

Renters

51.8%

Age distribution

23.4%

27.1%

26.6%

Under 1823.4%

18–3427.1%

35–5426.6%

55–6411.7%

65+11.2%

Gender

51.3%

48.7%

Male51.3%

Female48.7%

Race & ethnicity

25.2%

15%

64.3%

White25.2%

Black15%

Hispanic64.3%

Asian5.2%

Education (25+)

27.6%

29.6%

24.3%

18.5%

No HS diploma27.6%

HS diploma29.6%

Some college24.3%

Bachelor's+18.5%

Housing tenure

48.2%

51.8%

Owner48.2%

Renter51.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 60085 in Waukegan, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,323 → $1,710

up 29.3%

Income

$54,239 → $66,793

up 23.1%

Population

73,053 → 72,341

down 1.0%

Renter share

55.7% → 51.8%

-3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

16.8% → 18.5%

+1.7 pts

Median age

33.2 → 34.6

+1.4 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 60085 in Waukegan, IL stood at $1,323 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,710, reflecting a 29.3% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 60085 in Waukegan, IL now reports about $66,793, up from $54,239 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.0% since 2021, moving from about 73,053 residents to roughly 72,341. Renters now make up 51.8% of households, compared with 55.7% five years ago. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 60085 in Waukegan, IL reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 60085

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 60085 covers Waukegan, IL. The median rent here is $1,710/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,540/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($66,793/yr), ZIP 60085 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 60085?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (about $33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,710/mo in ZIP 60085. The local median household income is $66,793/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 60085?

Rent in ZIP 60085 has risen 1.5% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $1,713 in August 2026.

How does ZIP 60085 compare to other ZIPs in Illinois?

ZIP 60085 is in the middle among Illinois ZIP codes for rent, ranking #137 of 227 at $1,710/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 60085 changed +1.5%, against a typical +4.7% across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks.