Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Illinois
The typical rent in Illinois is $1,274 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,724 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $33.15 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Illinois
- Typical rent
- $1,274
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 10% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,724
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $930 to $2,341 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $33.15
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $68,960 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 48%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Illinois, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $12.46–$34.19 an hour
Lowest: $648 Highest: $1,778
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $13.67–$34.42 an hour
Lowest: $711 Highest: $1,790
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $17.88–$45.02 an hour
Lowest: $930 Highest: $2,341
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $21.31–$58.50 an hour
Lowest: $1,108 Highest: $3,042
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $23.50–$62.27 an hour
Lowest: $1,222 Highest: $3,238
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Illinois, 48% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
48%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,657,539 renter households in Illinois
- Spend half or more of their income 25%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 23%
- Spend less than 30% 52%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Illinois. Highest fair market rent first.
| Kendall County | $2,341 | $1,781 | $45.02 | 52% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage County | $2,011 | $1,688 | $38.67 | 45% |
| Lake County | $2,011 | $1,477 | $38.67 | 49% |
| Will County | $2,011 | $1,462 | $38.67 | 51% |
| Kane County | $2,011 | $1,453 | $38.67 | 50% |
| Cook County | $2,011 | $1,435 | $38.67 | 49% |
| McHenry County | $2,011 | $1,401 | $38.67 | 51% |
| Grundy County | $1,613 | $1,177 | $31.02 | 40% |
| DeKalb County | $1,481 | $1,049 | $28.48 | 57% |
| Kankakee County | $1,349 | $1,097 | $25.94 | 47% |
| St. Clair County | $1,349 | $1,090 | $25.94 | 48% |
| Monroe County | $1,349 | $1,042 | $25.94 | 47% |
| Madison County | $1,349 | $1,024 | $25.94 | 47% |
| Clinton County | $1,349 | $912 | $25.94 | 37% |
| Jersey County | $1,349 | $846 | $25.94 | 40% |
| Calhoun County | $1,349 | $583 | $25.94 | — |
| McLean County | $1,287 | $1,009 | $24.75 | 45% |
| Sangamon County | $1,237 | $983 | $23.79 | 46% |
| Menard County | $1,237 | $885 | $23.79 | 55% |
| Peoria County | $1,212 | $993 | $23.31 | 47% |
| Woodford County | $1,212 | $912 | $23.31 | 44% |
| Tazewell County | $1,212 | $909 | $23.31 | 43% |
| Marshall County | $1,212 | $782 | $23.31 | 41% |
| Stark County | $1,212 | $735 | $23.31 | 43% |
| Champaign County | $1,173 | $1,051 | $22.56 | 54% |
| Piatt County | $1,173 | $1,046 | $22.56 | 31% |
| Boone County | $1,172 | $1,041 | $22.54 | 46% |
| Winnebago County | $1,172 | $1,021 | $22.54 | 50% |
| Pope County | $1,095 | $449 | $21.06 | 34% |
| Macon County | $1,091 | $847 | $20.98 | 40% |
| Brown County | $1,084 | $698 | $20.85 | 40% |
| Ogle County | $1,080 | $936 | $20.77 | 38% |
| De Witt County | $1,059 | $903 | $20.37 | 34% |
| Rock Island County | $1,056 | $889 | $20.31 | 48% |
| Henry County | $1,056 | $842 | $20.31 | 40% |
| Mercer County | $1,056 | $786 | $20.31 | 38% |
| LaSalle County | $1,052 | $928 | $20.23 | 43% |
| Adams County | $1,013 | $828 | $19.48 | 41% |
| Alexander County | $1,012 | $656 | $19.46 | — |
| Clark County | $1,011 | $861 | $19.44 | 47% |
| Williamson County | $996 | $930 | $19.15 | 46% |
| Livingston County | $996 | $880 | $19.15 | 35% |
| Jefferson County | $994 | $885 | $19.12 | 43% |
| Massac County | $993 | $756 | $19.10 | 51% |
| Wabash County | $992 | $794 | $19.08 | 40% |
| Bureau County | $981 | $832 | $18.87 | 34% |
| Bond County | $979 | $785 | $18.83 | 33% |
| Macoupin County | $978 | $801 | $18.81 | 38% |
| Greene County | $965 | $754 | $18.56 | 38% |
| Logan County | $962 | $829 | $18.50 | 47% |
| Jo Daviess County | $959 | $825 | $18.44 | 41% |
| Vermilion County | $956 | $838 | $18.38 | 46% |
| Coles County | $950 | $780 | $18.27 | 43% |
| Jasper County | $948 | $793 | $18.23 | 28% |
| Shelby County | $946 | $814 | $18.19 | 32% |
| Whiteside County | $945 | $856 | $18.17 | 45% |
| Lawrence County | $943 | $836 | $18.13 | 34% |
| Putnam County | $942 | $851 | $18.12 | 29% |
| Christian County | $939 | $785 | $18.06 | 36% |
| Richland County | $935 | $805 | $17.98 | 46% |
| Henderson County | $935 | $764 | $17.98 | 32% |
| Ford County | $930 | $923 | $17.88 | 44% |
| Lee County | $930 | $894 | $17.88 | 42% |
| Schuyler County | $930 | $853 | $17.88 | 34% |
| Douglas County | $930 | $848 | $17.88 | 33% |
| Carroll County | $930 | $818 | $17.88 | 37% |
| Washington County | $930 | $818 | $17.88 | 29% |
| Crawford County | $930 | $811 | $17.88 | 36% |
| Edwards County | $930 | $811 | $17.88 | 45% |
| Moultrie County | $930 | $804 | $17.88 | 34% |
| Franklin County | $930 | $803 | $17.88 | 52% |
| Mason County | $930 | $802 | $17.88 | 57% |
| Iroquois County | $930 | $799 | $17.88 | 43% |
| Fayette County | $930 | $798 | $17.88 | 52% |
| Stephenson County | $930 | $798 | $17.88 | 43% |
| Marion County | $930 | $794 | $17.88 | 43% |
| Knox County | $930 | $788 | $17.88 | 52% |
| Warren County | $930 | $788 | $17.88 | 35% |
| Fulton County | $930 | $785 | $17.88 | 46% |
| Hancock County | $930 | $782 | $17.88 | 40% |
| Jackson County | $930 | $782 | $17.88 | 50% |
| Johnson County | $930 | $781 | $17.88 | 43% |
| Randolph County | $930 | $780 | $17.88 | 44% |
| Edgar County | $930 | $775 | $17.88 | 34% |
| Cumberland County | $930 | $772 | $17.88 | 36% |
| McDonough County | $930 | $761 | $17.88 | 48% |
| Clay County | $930 | $735 | $17.88 | 23% |
| Effingham County | $930 | $733 | $17.88 | 33% |
| Perry County | $930 | $728 | $17.88 | 49% |
| Saline County | $930 | $726 | $17.88 | 50% |
| Cass County | $930 | $723 | $17.88 | 29% |
| Montgomery County | $930 | $723 | $17.88 | 46% |
| Morgan County | $930 | $722 | $17.88 | 33% |
| White County | $930 | $719 | $17.88 | 41% |
| Scott County | $930 | $689 | $17.88 | 24% |
| Pike County | $930 | $676 | $17.88 | 41% |
| Wayne County | $930 | $657 | $17.88 | 41% |
| Union County | $930 | $648 | $17.88 | 48% |
| Pulaski County | $930 | $634 | $17.88 | 30% |
| Hamilton County | $930 | $568 | $17.88 | 21% |
| Gallatin County | $930 | $541 | $17.88 | 35% |
| Hardin County | $930 | $379 | $17.88 | — |
- Kendall $2,341$45.02
- DuPage $2,011$38.67
- Lake $2,011$38.67
- Will $2,011$38.67
- Kane $2,011$38.67
- Cook $2,011$38.67
- McHenry $2,011$38.67
- Grundy $1,613$31.02
- DeKalb $1,481$28.48
- Kankakee $1,349$25.94
- St. Clair $1,349$25.94
- Monroe $1,349$25.94
- Madison $1,349$25.94
- Clinton $1,349$25.94
- Jersey $1,349$25.94
- Calhoun $1,349$25.94
- McLean $1,287$24.75
- Sangamon $1,237$23.79
- Menard $1,237$23.79
- Peoria $1,212$23.31
- Woodford $1,212$23.31
- Tazewell $1,212$23.31
- Marshall $1,212$23.31
- Stark $1,212$23.31
- Champaign $1,173$22.56
- Piatt $1,173$22.56
- Boone $1,172$22.54
- Winnebago $1,172$22.54
- Pope $1,095$21.06
- Macon $1,091$20.98
- Brown $1,084$20.85
- Ogle $1,080$20.77
- De Witt $1,059$20.37
- Rock Island $1,056$20.31
- Henry $1,056$20.31
- Mercer $1,056$20.31
- LaSalle $1,052$20.23
- Adams $1,013$19.48
- Alexander $1,012$19.46
- Clark $1,011$19.44
- Williamson $996$19.15
- Livingston $996$19.15
- Jefferson $994$19.12
- Massac $993$19.10
- Wabash $992$19.08
- Bureau $981$18.87
- Bond $979$18.83
- Macoupin $978$18.81
- Greene $965$18.56
- Logan $962$18.50
- Jo Daviess $959$18.44
- Vermilion $956$18.38
- Coles $950$18.27
- Jasper $948$18.23
- Shelby $946$18.19
- Whiteside $945$18.17
- Lawrence $943$18.13
- Putnam $942$18.12
- Christian $939$18.06
- Richland $935$17.98
- Henderson $935$17.98
- Ford $930$17.88
- Lee $930$17.88
- Schuyler $930$17.88
- Douglas $930$17.88
- Carroll $930$17.88
- Washington $930$17.88
- Crawford $930$17.88
- Edwards $930$17.88
- Moultrie $930$17.88
- Franklin $930$17.88
- Mason $930$17.88
- Iroquois $930$17.88
- Fayette $930$17.88
- Stephenson $930$17.88
- Marion $930$17.88
- Knox $930$17.88
- Warren $930$17.88
- Fulton $930$17.88
- Hancock $930$17.88
- Jackson $930$17.88
- Johnson $930$17.88
- Randolph $930$17.88
- Edgar $930$17.88
- Cumberland $930$17.88
- McDonough $930$17.88
- Clay $930$17.88
- Effingham $930$17.88
- Perry $930$17.88
- Saline $930$17.88
- Cass $930$17.88
- Montgomery $930$17.88
- Morgan $930$17.88
- White $930$17.88
- Scott $930$17.88
- Pike $930$17.88
- Wayne $930$17.88
- Union $930$17.88
- Pulaski $930$17.88
- Hamilton $930$17.88
- Gallatin $930$17.88
- Hardin $930$17.88
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Illinois
What Illinois law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 5 days
- 735 ILCS 5/9-101 to 9-307 (Eviction Act)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- 735 ILCS 5/9-101 to 9-307 (Eviction Act)
- Only a court order can remove you735 ILCS 5/9-101 to 9-307 (Eviction Act)
- Protection from retaliation765 ILCS 721 (Landlord Retaliation Act)
- Protection related to immigration statusIllinois Human Rights Act
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Illinois
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
81 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 29 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies -
Rental assistance programs
Verified at their official source.
- Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) · Open, per the source · Verified November 6, 2026
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Illinois is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Kendall County ($2,341, about $45.02 an hour) and the cheapest Ford County ($930, about $17.88 an hour).
How many households in Illinois spend too much on rent?
48% of renter households in Illinois spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 25% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Illinois, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $930 to $2,341 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Illinois?
106 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Illinois; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.