Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Sycamore, IL?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 35% of gross income.
Sycamore 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 Sycamore, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Sycamore
View full rent data for Sycamore, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Sycamore, IL?
Median rent in Sycamore is $1,543 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 35% 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 Sycamore?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Sycamore's current median rent is $1,543/mo, which is $222/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Sycamore?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 60.7 hours a month to cover Sycamore's median rent of $1,543.
Where is rent cheaper than Sycamore for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Waukegan ($1,542/mo), Woodridge ($1,539/mo), Joliet ($1,537/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.