Cook County Illinois Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Cook County IL was $1,146 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Cook County was $1,217 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Cook County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Cook County rental vacancy rates, Cook County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Cook County.
Real Gross Rent in Cook County Illinois (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Illinois Median Gross Rent | $1,020 | +0.69% | +2.51% |
| Cook County IL Median Gross Rent | $1,146 | +1.15% | +4.47% |
Cook County IL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,146, real median gross rent in Cook County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,217, real average gross rent in Cook County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Cook County IL Median, Cook County IL Average, Illinois Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Cook County
| Date | US Median |
Illinois Median |
Cook County IL Median |
Cook County IL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,020 | $1,146 | $1,217 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,013 | $1,133 | $1,204 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,004 | $1,116 | $1,179 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $995 | $1,097 | $1,172 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $993 | $1,065 | $1,150 |
| 2014 | $986 | $955 | $1,038 | $1,122 |
| 2013 | $953 | $932 | $1,006 | $1,083 |
| 2012 | $940 | $923 | $998 | $1,060 |
| 2011 | $941 | $928 | $1,000 | $1,068 |
| 2010 | $955 | $948 | $1,025 | $1,087 |
| 2009 | $960 | $944 | $1,025 | $1,088 |
| 2007 | $927 | $920 | $1,001 | $1,057 |
| 2005 | $910 | $918 | $999 | $1,031 |
Cook County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Cook County Illinois was 4.61% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Cook County Illinois
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Illinois | 5.65% | -0.67% | -0.36% |
| Cook County IL | 4.61% | -1.54% | -0.72% |
Trends in Cook County IL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Cook County peaked in 2005 at 9.43%. Since then it has fallen by 4.82% to 4.61%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Cook County IL, Illinois, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Cook County
| Date | US | Illinois | Cook County IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.65% | 4.61% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.32% | 6.15% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.02% | 6.61% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.01% | 5.33% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.21% | 5.38% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.53% | 6.69% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.16% | 6.17% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.39% | 6.72% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.35% | 8.17% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.66% | 8.49% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.84% | 8.52% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.69% | 8.36% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.45% | 9.43% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Cook County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Cook County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.81% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Cook County Illinois Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Illinois | 17.69% | -0.67% | -1.01% |
| Cook County IL | 19.81% | -1.27% | -1.14% |
Trends in Cook County IL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Cook County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.87%. Since then it has fallen by 2.06% to 19.81%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Cook County IL, Illinois, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Cook County Illinois
| Date | US | Illinois | Cook County IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.69% | 19.81% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.36% | 21.08% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.55% | 21.14% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 20.94% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.85% | 21.19% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.91% | 21.42% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.89% | 21.29% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.89% | 21.57% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.36% | 21.87% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.21% | 21.38% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.41% | 20.53% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.36% | 19.45% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.52% | 19.59% |
Renter Fraction in Cook County Illinois
You can calculate the renter fraction in Cook County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Cook County as a fraction of total Cook County households. In 2019 43.33% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Cook County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Illinois | 33.99% | -0.02% | -0.75% |
| Cook County IL | 43.33% | +0.52% | -0.72% |
Trends in the Cook County IL Renter Fraction
The Cook County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 44.34% and is now 1.01% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Cook County IL, Illinois, US
History of Cook County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Illinois | Cook County IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.99% | 43.33% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.01% | 42.81% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.82% | 43.56% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.74% | 44.05% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.72% | 44.34% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.51% | 43.79% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 34.06% | 43.62% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.40% | 42.92% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.65% | 42.35% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.27% | 41.35% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.00% | 40.67% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.94% | 37.70% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.13% | 38.52% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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