Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Alton, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19% of gross income.

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

Alton median rent
$985/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
19%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Alton's median rent of $985 leaves roughly $569/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 33 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Alton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Decatur, IL
$984/mo (19% of income)
Dixon, IL
$981/mo (18.9% of income)
Highland, IL
$979/mo (18.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alton

View full rent data for Alton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Alton, IL?

Median rent in Alton is $985 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 19% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Alton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Alton's current median rent is $985/mo, which leaves a $569/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Alton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 33 hours a month to cover Alton's median rent of $985.

Where is rent cheaper than Alton for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Decatur ($984/mo), Dixon ($981/mo), Highland ($979/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Illinois state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Alton, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.