Chicago, Illinois Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Chicago, Illinois rental market.

Chicago, Illinois

Average Apartment Rent

$2,331

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

2.8%

As of November 2024

Compared to a year ago, Chicago, Illinois apartments have recorded a 2.8% rent increase.

Chicago, Illinois Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Nov 2021 Mar 2022 Jul 2022 Nov 2022 Mar 2023 Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024
Chicago $2,091 $2,080 $2,206 $2,224 $2,215 $2,309 $2,251 $2,241 $2,349 $2,331
National $1,596 $1,635 $1,708 $1,726 $1,714 $1,739 $1,733 $1,727 $1,752 $1,748
Chicago
National
Nov 2021
$2,091
$1,596
Mar 2022
$2,080
$1,635
Jul 2022
$2,206
$1,708
Nov 2022
$2,224
$1,726
Mar 2023
$2,215
$1,714
Jul 2023
$2,309
$1,739
Nov 2023
$2,251
$1,733
Mar 2024
$2,241
$1,727
Jul 2024
$2,349
$1,752
Nov 2024
$2,331
$1,748

Chicago, Illinois Average Apartment Rent

Chicago, Illinois Apartment rent ranges

Under $500
$500 - $700
$700 - $1000
$1,000 - $1,500
$1,500 - $2,000
Over $2,000

At 56.1%, apartments priced Over $2,000 represent the bulk of Chicago, Illinois rentals, while condos priced $500 - $700 hold the lowest share of the market – 0.41%.

Chicago, Illinois Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 614,673
Owner occupied housing units 515,235

Renters take up 54% of Chicago, Illinois real estate, occupying a total of 614,673 units, while homeowners live in 515,235 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

4

Renter median household income**

$50,129

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

2.12

Rental vacancy rate**

5.5%

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 67,275
1 bed 186,235
2 beds 222,795
3 beds 113,089
4 beds 19,429
5 or more beds 5,850

There are 222,795 rentals in Chicago, Illinois with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 36%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 5,850 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Chicago, Illinois homes for rent is 4.

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 45,756
25 - 34 years 199,882
35 - 44 years 113,386
45 - 54 years 81,406
55 - 59 years 39,605
60 - 64 years 40,676
65 - 74 years 54,681
75 - 84 years 29,013
85 years and over 10,268

Most condos for rent in Chicago, Illinois are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (33%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (18%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 2%.

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 242,081
Non-Family Households 372,592

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 131,959
No related children of the householder under 18 482,714

A total of 242,081 apartments for rent in Chicago, Illinois, or 39% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 21% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 131,959 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Chicago, Illinois is 2.12.

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 73,858
High school graduate (including equivalency) 125,379
Some college or associate's degree 152,171
Bachelor's degree or higher 263,265

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 43% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 12% of the homes for rent in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 35,368
Built 2000 - 2009 43,153
Built 1990 - 1999 34,751
Built 1980 - 1989 40,548
Built 1970 - 1979 60,268
Built 1960 - 1969 62,212
Built 1950 - 1959 59,266
Built 1940 - 1949 49,694
Built 1939 or earlier 227,991

The highest share of Chicago, Illinois apartment rentals, namely 37% or 227,991 units, were Built 1939 or earlier, followed by those Built 1960 - 1969 (10%, 62,212 units), and the ones Built 1970 - 1979 (10%, 60,268 units).

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 55,142
Moved in 2018 to 2020 200,790
Moved in 2010 to 2017 253,174
Moved in 2000 to 2009 66,802
Moved in 1990 to 1999 22,942
Moved in 1989 or earlier 15,823

Median year renter moved into unit 2016

Most Chicago, Illinois renters (41%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 3% of them moved in 1989 or earlier. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Chicago, Illinois condos for rent is 2016.

Chicago, Illinois Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 246,432
1 vehicle available 274,414
2 vehicles available 77,011
3 or more vehicles available 16,816

When it comes to transportation options, 45% of Chicago, Illinois renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 40% of them have No vehicle available, and 13% have 2 vehicles available.

Chicago, Illinois Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 264,146
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 41,257
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 183,333
Walked 47,573
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 27,434
Worked at home 101,418

Chicago, Illinois Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 1,015,472
Moved within same county 198,004
Moved from different county within same state 15,267
Moved from different state 44,481
Moved from abroad 13,947

Chicago, Illinois Average apartment rent by zip codes


The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Chicago, Illinois apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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