ZIP Code · IL

ZIP 60638

Part of Chicago, IL

Pop. 57,074·Cook County·154th most expensive ZIP in Illinois

Median rent (all units)

$1,577/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$355

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 60638 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 60638 · $1,577

More affordable than 67% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,320

1 BR

$1,410

2 BR

$1,590

3 BR

$2,050

4 BR+

$2,370

Research median

$1,590/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in ZIP 60638 changed +2.5% 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 ($91,070) is $2,277 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,050); a 4-bedroom is $2,370.

Rank in Chicago

9th cheapest of 51 ZIP codes in Chicago.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 60629, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,404/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 60638. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,924/yr

At $1,577/mo median

Location

CityChicago

StateIL

CountyCook County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.5% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 60638 (Chicago, IL) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 25.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,074

Median income

$91,070

Median age

38.2

Renters

20.2%

Age distribution

23.9%

20.4%

29.4%

14.8%

Under 1823.9%

18–3420.4%

35–5429.4%

55–6411.4%

65+14.8%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

43%

60.8%

White43%

Black2.3%

Hispanic60.8%

Asian1.3%

Education (25+)

16.3%

30.7%

27.9%

25.1%

No HS diploma16.3%

HS diploma30.7%

Some college27.9%

Bachelor's+25.1%

Housing tenure

79.8%

20.2%

Owner79.8%

Renter20.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 60638 in Chicago, IL has changed in 5 years

Income

$76,258 → $91,070

up 19.4%

Population

58,959 → 57,074

down 3.2%

Renter share

20.7% → 20.2%

-0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

23.2% → 25.1%

+1.9 pts

Household income in the area moved from $76,258 to $91,070 across the same window, up 19.4% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 58,959 to 57,074 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 60638

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 60638

About renting in ZIP 60638

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 60638 covers Chicago, IL. The median rent here is $1,577/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,590/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($91,070/yr), ZIP 60638 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 60638?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,577/mo in ZIP 60638. The local median household income is $91,070/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 60638?

Rent in ZIP 60638 has risen 2.5% over the past year.

How does ZIP 60638 compare to other ZIPs in Illinois?

ZIP 60638 is one of the more affordable among Illinois ZIP codes for rent, ranking #154 of 227 at $1,577/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 60638 changed +2.5%, against a typical +4.7% across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks.