Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Alton, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.

Alton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Alton median rent
$985/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
22.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Alton's median rent of $985 leaves roughly $336/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Alton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Decatur, IL
$984/mo (22.3% of income)
Dixon, IL
$981/mo (22.3% of income)
Highland, IL
$979/mo (22.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alton

View full rent data for Alton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Alton, IL?

Median rent in Alton is $985 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Alton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Alton's current median rent is $985/mo, which leaves a $336/mo buffer.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Alton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover Alton's median rent of $985.

Where is rent cheaper than Alton for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Decatur ($984/mo), Dixon ($981/mo), Highland ($979/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Illinois state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Alton, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.