Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Highland, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.2% of gross income.

Highland rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Highland median rent
$1,200/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
27.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Highland's median rent of $1,200 leaves roughly $121/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 47.2 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 Highland, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Rockford, IL
$1,199/mo (27.2% of income)
Peoria, IL
$1,194/mo (27.1% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,192/mo (27.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highland

View full rent data for Highland, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Highland, IL?

Median rent in Highland is $1,200 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 27.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Highland?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Highland's current median rent is $1,200/mo, which leaves a $121/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 47.2 hours a month to cover Highland's median rent of $1,200.

Where is rent cheaper than Highland for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($1,199/mo), Peoria ($1,194/mo), Shiloh ($1,192/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 Highland, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.