Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Fairview Heights, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.3% of gross income.

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

Fairview Heights median rent
$1,379/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
31.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Fairview Heights's median rent of $1,379 exceeds that threshold by $58/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 54.3 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 Fairview Heights, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Champaign, IL
$1,378/mo (31.3% of income)
Cahokia, IL
$1,377/mo (31.3% of income)
Lisle, IL
$1,376/mo (31.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairview Heights

View full rent data for Fairview Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Fairview Heights, IL?

Median rent in Fairview Heights is $1,379 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 31.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Fairview Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Fairview Heights's current median rent is $1,379/mo, which is $58/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 54.3 hours a month to cover Fairview Heights's median rent of $1,379.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairview Heights for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Champaign ($1,378/mo), Cahokia ($1,377/mo), Lisle ($1,376/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 Fairview Heights, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.