Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Niles, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.7% of gross income.

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

Niles median rent
$2,160/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
41.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Niles's median rent of $2,160 exceeds that threshold by $606/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 72.3 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 Niles, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Buffalo Grove, IL
$2,159/mo (41.7% of income)
Vernon Hills, IL
$2,159/mo (41.7% of income)
Streamwood, IL
$2,158/mo (41.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Niles

View full rent data for Niles, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Niles, IL?

Median rent in Niles is $2,160 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 41.7% 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 Niles?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Niles's current median rent is $2,160/mo, which is $606/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 72.3 hours a month to cover Niles's median rent of $2,160.

Where is rent cheaper than Niles for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Buffalo Grove ($2,159/mo), Vernon Hills ($2,159/mo), Streamwood ($2,158/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 Niles, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.