Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Downers Grove, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.7% of gross income.

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

Downers Grove median rent
$2,264/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
43.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264 exceeds that threshold by $710/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 75.8 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 Downers Grove, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Darien, IL
$2,263/mo (43.7% of income)
North Aurora, IL
$2,263/mo (43.7% of income)
Highwood, IL
$2,262/mo (43.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Downers Grove

View full rent data for Downers Grove, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Downers Grove, IL?

Median rent in Downers Grove is $2,264 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 43.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Downers Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Downers Grove's current median rent is $2,264/mo, which is $710/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 75.8 hours a month to cover Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264.

Where is rent cheaper than Downers Grove for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Darien ($2,263/mo), North Aurora ($2,263/mo), Highwood ($2,262/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 Downers Grove, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.