Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Zion, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.

Zion rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Zion median rent
$1,396/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
27%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Zion's median rent of $1,396 leaves roughly $158/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 46.7 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 Zion, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Swansea, IL
$1,395/mo (26.9% of income)
Champaign, IL
$1,393/mo (26.9% of income)
Midlothian, IL
$1,392/mo (26.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Zion

View full rent data for Zion, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Zion, IL?

Median rent in Zion is $1,396 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Zion?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Zion's current median rent is $1,396/mo, which leaves a $158/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 46.7 hours a month to cover Zion's median rent of $1,396.

Where is rent cheaper than Zion for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Swansea ($1,395/mo), Champaign ($1,393/mo), Midlothian ($1,392/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 Zion, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.