Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.2% of gross income.

Arlington Heights rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Arlington Heights median rent
$1,959/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
58.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,959 exceeds that threshold by $949/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 100.9 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 Arlington Heights, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Palatine, IL
$1,958/mo (58.2% of income)
Palatine, IL
$1,957/mo (58.1% of income)
Gurnee, IL
$1,957/mo (58.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington Heights

View full rent data for Arlington Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Median rent in Arlington Heights is $1,959 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 58.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Arlington Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Arlington Heights's current median rent is $1,959/mo, which is $949/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 100.9 hours a month to cover Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,959.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington Heights for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Palatine ($1,958/mo), Palatine ($1,957/mo), Gurnee ($1,957/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 Arlington Heights, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.