Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Sycamore, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.

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

Sycamore median rent
$1,543/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
29.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Sycamore's median rent of $1,543 leaves roughly $11/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 51.6 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 Sycamore, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Waukegan, IL
$1,542/mo (29.8% of income)
Woodridge, IL
$1,539/mo (29.7% of income)
Joliet, IL
$1,537/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sycamore

View full rent data for Sycamore, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Sycamore, IL?

Median rent in Sycamore is $1,543 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Sycamore?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Sycamore's current median rent is $1,543/mo, which leaves a $11/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 51.6 hours a month to cover Sycamore's median rent of $1,543.

Where is rent cheaper than Sycamore for a carpenter?

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 carpenter salary.

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