Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Alton, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

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

Alton median rent
$985/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Alton's median rent of $985 leaves roughly $25/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Alton, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Decatur, IL
$984/mo (29.2% of income)
Dixon, IL
$981/mo (29.1% of income)
Highland, IL
$979/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alton

View full rent data for Alton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Alton, IL?

Median rent in Alton is $985 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Alton?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Alton's current median rent is $985/mo, which leaves a $25/mo buffer.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Alton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Alton's median rent of $985.

Where is rent cheaper than Alton for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Decatur ($984/mo), Dixon ($981/mo), Highland ($979/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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