Best Rental Markets in Illinois (2026)
Data updated September 2026 · 192 cities screened
Illinois's median home value is $295,943 with a median rent of $1,322/mo across our 192 investable cities. At 5.4% annual rent-to-price (82th percentile nationally), it leans toward cash-flow territory, with rents large relative to what you pay for the house. Landlord-tenant law leans tenant-friendly, so budget for a longer eviction timeline.
Top Illinois cities for cash flow
Ranked by annual rent ÷ median home value. Higher means the rent check is bigger relative to what you paid, the first screen for a cash-flowing rental.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cahokia Heights | $46,269 | $1,370/mo | 35.5% | 17,106 |
| 2 | Markham | $155,674 | $2,500/mo | 19.3% | 11,355 |
| 3 | Harvey | $107,308 | $1,696/mo | 19.0% | 20,230 |
| 4 | Hazel Crest | $183,435 | $2,725/mo | 17.8% | 13,792 |
| 5 | Dolton | $156,701 | $2,327/mo | 17.8% | 20,825 |
| 6 | Country Club Hills | $215,706 | $3,125/mo | 17.4% | 16,324 |
| 7 | South Holland | $230,722 | $2,995/mo | 15.6% | 20,911 |
| 8 | Park Forest | $159,644 | $1,856/mo | 14.0% | 21,156 |
| 9 | Danville | $82,781 | $882/mo | 12.8% | 28,595 |
| 10 | Riverdale | $119,233 | $1,232/mo | 12.4% | 10,340 |
Most affordable entry points
Lowest median home values, where a first deal or a limited budget goes furthest. Cheap is not automatically good: check rent and condition before assuming a bargain.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cahokia Heights | $46,269 | $1,370/mo | 35.5% | 17,106 |
| 2 | Danville | $82,781 | $882/mo | 12.8% | 28,595 |
| 3 | Alton | $102,377 | $1,002/mo | 11.7% | 25,279 |
| 4 | Decatur | $104,646 | $1,056/mo | 12.1% | 69,815 |
| 5 | Galesburg | $105,556 | $872/mo | 9.9% | 29,481 |
| 6 | Harvey | $107,308 | $1,696/mo | 19.0% | 20,230 |
| 7 | Herrin | $111,619 | $1,006/mo | 10.8% | 12,226 |
| 8 | Macomb | $112,774 | $816/mo | 8.7% | 14,894 |
| 9 | Granite City | $115,340 | $1,046/mo | 10.9% | 26,549 |
| 10 | Riverdale | $119,233 | $1,232/mo | 12.4% | 10,340 |
Fastest rent growth
Year-over-year change in Zillow's observed rent index. Rising rents lift future cash flow, but verify the driver (jobs and population, not a one-year blip).
| # | City | Rent Growth YoY | Median Rent | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niles | 24.6% | $2,383/mo | $417,722 |
| 2 | Collinsville | 19.9% | $1,161/mo | $195,064 |
| 3 | Libertyville | 10.8% | $2,205/mo | $623,869 |
| 4 | Maywood | 9.4% | $1,418/mo | $258,224 |
| 5 | Morton Grove | 9.0% | $2,532/mo | $449,279 |
| 6 | Quincy | 8.3% | $1,059/mo | $181,195 |
| 7 | DeKalb | 7.9% | $1,319/mo | $260,812 |
| 8 | Cahokia Heights | 7.8% | $1,370/mo | $46,269 |
| 9 | Shiloh | 7.6% | $1,293/mo | $316,068 |
| 10 | Edwardsville | 7.6% | $1,588/mo | $327,835 |
Illinois fundamentals for landlords
The state-level numbers that shape every deal here: what taxes and law take out of the rent check, and whether demand is growing.
Annual tax as a share of home value (Tax Foundation). Comes straight out of cash flow.
Top marginal state rate (Tax Foundation), the rate your rental profit is taxed at in-state.
Composite of rent control, eviction timeline, deposit caps, and notice rules in state statute.
Census ACS. People moving in = housing demand; sustained decline is the risk flag.
BLS, latest month. Tenant quality and vacancy risk track the job market.
Census BPS, latest year. Heavy new supply competes with your unit at renewal time.
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Affects insurance, tenant pool, and appreciation.
FEMA declarations, a proxy for insurance cost and climate exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rental market in Illinois for cash flow?
By rent-to-price ratio, Cahokia Heights leads Illinois at 35.5%, with a median rent of $1,370/mo against a $46,269 median home value (Zillow, September 2026).
Does Illinois pass the 1% rule?
At state medians of $1,322 rent on a $295,943 home, monthly rent is 0.45% of the purchase price, so the median Illinois deal falls short of the 1% screen. Individual cities can still clear it. See the table above.
Is Illinois landlord-friendly?
Illinois scores 38/100 on our landlord-friendliness composite (rent control status, eviction timeline, deposit caps, notice requirements), less owner-friendly than 78% of states.
How high are property taxes in Illinois?
The effective property tax rate is 2.27% of home value per year (Tax Foundation). On the median $295,943 home, that is roughly $6,718 a year off your cash flow.
Compare with similar states
About this data: compiled by RehabRange from Zillow Research (ZHVI home values, ZORI rents), U.S. Census Bureau (ACS population and income, Building Permits Survey), Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment), FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA, and Tax Foundation. Last updated September 2026.
RehabRange is built by Mitchell Haughton, a practicing eastern-Connecticut real estate investor. These are the same screens he runs before walking a property. How we rank markets