ZIP Code · IL

ZIP 61761

Part of Normal, IL

Pop. 54,075·McLean County·178th most expensive ZIP in Illinois

Median rent (all units)

$1,394/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$538

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 61761 · $1,394

More affordable than 80% 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

$880

1 BR

$940

2 BR

$1,230

3 BR

$1,620

4 BR+

$1,630

Research median

$1,230/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 61761 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in ZIP 61761 changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.7%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($65,275) is $1,632 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,630).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 61701, 4 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,078/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 61761. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,728/yr

At $1,394/mo median

Location

CityNormal

StateIL

CountyMcLean County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 61761 (Normal, IL) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 52.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

54,075

Median income

$65,275

Median age

25.1

Renters

45%

Age distribution

16.2%

44.7%

18.5%

12.2%

Under 1816.2%

18–3444.7%

35–5418.5%

55–648.4%

65+12.2%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

78.1%

White78.1%

Black10.8%

Hispanic7.1%

Asian4.2%

Education (25+)

19%

25.7%

52.9%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma19%

Some college25.7%

Bachelor's+52.9%

Housing tenure

55%

45%

Owner55%

Renter45%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 61761 in Normal, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,028 → $1,394

up 35.6%

Income

$59,103 → $65,275

up 10.4%

Population

54,251 → 54,075

down 0.3%

Renter share

44.2% → 45%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

52.5% → 52.9%

+0.4 pts

Rent in ZIP 61761 in Normal, IL has climbed 35.6% since 2022, going from about $1,028 per month to roughly $1,394 today. Household income in the area moved from $59,103 to $65,275 across the same window, up 10.4% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 61761 in Normal, IL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 61761

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 61761 covers Normal, IL. The median rent here is $1,394/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $940/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,230/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($65,275/yr), ZIP 61761 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 61761?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,394/mo in ZIP 61761. The local median household income is $65,275/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 61761?

Rent in ZIP 61761 has risen 4.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

How does ZIP 61761 compare to other ZIPs in Illinois?

ZIP 61761 is one of the more affordable among Illinois ZIP codes for rent, ranking #178 of 227 at $1,394/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 61761 changed +4.4%, against a typical +4.7% across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks.