Can you afford to live in Chicago?

Median household income, home values and rent in Chicago, IL — how they've changed since 2015 and how much of a typical paycheck housing takes compared with the rest of the country.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

What it costs to live in Chicago.

Median household income: $75,134 — +54.8% since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation)

Median gross rent: $1,380/mo — +43.0% since 2015

Median home value, 2015 to 2023

• 2015: 222900
• 2023: 315200

Median household income

• Chicago: 75134
• Cook County: 81797
• IL: 81702
• U.S.: 78538

Median gross rent

• Chicago: 1380
• Cook County: 1381
• IL: 1227
• U.S.: 1348

Share of income a typical renter spends on rent: 29.0% — U.S.: 30.2%

What it means

Households here earn about what households nationally earn ($75,134 versus $78,538).

The typical renter here spends 29.0% of household income on rent, below the 30% cost-burden line.

Since 2015, income has kept pace with rent here (+54.8% versus +43.0%), before adjusting for inflation.