Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Chicago Heights, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.9% of gross income.

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

Chicago Heights median rent
$1,498/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
28.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Chicago Heights's median rent of $1,498 leaves roughly $56/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 50.1 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 Chicago Heights, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Bourbonnais, IL
$1,496/mo (28.9% of income)
Alsip, IL
$1,493/mo (28.8% of income)
Edwardsville, IL
$1,492/mo (28.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chicago Heights

View full rent data for Chicago Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Chicago Heights, IL?

Median rent in Chicago Heights is $1,498 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 28.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Chicago Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Chicago Heights's current median rent is $1,498/mo, which leaves a $56/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 50.1 hours a month to cover Chicago Heights's median rent of $1,498.

Where is rent cheaper than Chicago Heights for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Bourbonnais ($1,496/mo), Alsip ($1,493/mo), Edwardsville ($1,492/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 Chicago Heights, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.