County FMR · HUD FY2026
St. Clair County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. Clair County, IL — 4% above the US average.
- $995
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,218
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.1%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for St. Clair County, IL. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in St. Clair County, Illinois is $995 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,218/mo and a studio is $955/mo.
This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 17% above the Illinois average of $854. Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($984), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $39,800/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Illinois. Population: 256,791.
What these rents mean for St. Clair County
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule sets the St. Clair County Illinois 1-bedroom at $995, with a studio at $955, 2-bedroom at $1,218, 3-bedroom at $1,568, and 4-bedroom at $1,812. These figures represent the 40th percentile of gross rents — meaning 60% of standard-quality rental units in this HUD area cost more. The St. Clair County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Illinois's housing authorities use it as the baseline when setting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards (typically 90%–110% of FMR).
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 4% above the US average of $959 and 17% higher than the Illinois state average of $854. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from $984 in FY 2025 to $995 in FY 2026 — a change of +1.1%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
For budgeting, the traditional 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $995, that implies a household income of $39,800 per year (about $3,317/month) to stay affordable — a 2-bedroom at $1,218 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 256,791 and a county median household income of $70,178, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened. Rent-burdened households (paying more than 30% of income) and severely burdened households (above 50%) face a sharply higher risk of housing instability, and this county's numbers set the benchmark for assessing that risk.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $951 | $955 | +$4 (+0.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $984 | $995 | +$11 (+1.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,215 | $1,218 | +$3 (+0.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,570 | $1,568 | $-2 (-0.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,806 | $1,812 | +$6 (+0.3%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in St. Clair County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How St. Clair compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties
- Cook
Cook County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- DuPage
DuPage County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Lake
Lake County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Will
Will County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Kane
Kane County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- McHenry
McHenry County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Clair
St. Clair County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows St. Clair is highlighted. Bars are FY2026 HUD 1-bedroom Fair Market Rents.
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $995/mo compares to Illinois salaries for popular occupations (30% rule).
| Occupation | IL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $127,770 | 9.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $101,430 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $101,530 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $96,360 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,410 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $79,300 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $64,160 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,290 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,790 | 20% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,910 | 26.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,610 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,010 | 32.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,780 | 33.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,490 | 34.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,900 | 37.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for St. Clair County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.1% | $955 | $995 | $1,218 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.2% | $951 | $984 | $1,215 |
| FY 2024 ↑22.3% | $928 | $972 | $1,209 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.7% | $748 | $795 | $999 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.9% | $689 | $745 | $947 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.3% | $671 | $731 | $938 |
| FY 2020 | $633 | $701 | $905 |
Nearby Counties in Illinois
Largest counties by population in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in St. Clair County? ▼
How does St. Clair County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in St. Clair County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in St. Clair County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in St. Clair County? ▼
How much has rent changed in St. Clair County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. Clair County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for St. Clair County? ▼
Rental Guides
Explore more rent data
More HUD Fair Market Rent tools and rankings for St. Clair County and beyond.
Data Sources
Primary source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FMRs represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.
Affordability data: Income-to-rent ratios calculated using the 30% affordability standard. Population and income data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.
Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, used for job affordability analysis.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- HUD Income Limits — area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
- HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) — rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index — Rent of Primary Residence — rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- IRS Migration Data (SOI) — interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration