Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in East Alton, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.3% of gross income.

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

East Alton median rent
$850/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
19.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. East Alton's median rent of $850 leaves roughly $471/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 33.4 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 East Alton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Pekin, IL
$843/mo (19.1% of income)
Danville, IL
$843/mo (19.1% of income)
Rantoul, IL
$841/mo (19.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Alton

View full rent data for East Alton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in East Alton, IL?

Median rent in East Alton is $850 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 19.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in East Alton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. East Alton's current median rent is $850/mo, which leaves a $471/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 33.4 hours a month to cover East Alton's median rent of $850.

Where is rent cheaper than East Alton for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Pekin ($843/mo), Danville ($843/mo), Rantoul ($841/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 East Alton, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.