Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Rockford, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.4% of gross income.
Rockford rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Rockford, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Rockford
View full rent data for Rockford, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Rockford, IL?
Median rent in Rockford is $1,208 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 27.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Rockford?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Rockford's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which leaves a $113/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Rockford?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 47.5 hours a month to cover Rockford's median rent of $1,208.
Where is rent cheaper than Rockford for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Troy ($1,206/mo), Shiloh ($1,202/mo), Quincy ($1,201/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.