Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Bloomington, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.

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

Bloomington median rent
$1,270/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
37.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Bloomington's median rent of $1,270 exceeds that threshold by $260/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 65.4 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 Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Cicero, IL
$1,269/mo (37.7% of income)
Urbana, IL
$1,268/mo (37.7% of income)
Dekalb, IL
$1,267/mo (37.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bloomington

View full rent data for Bloomington, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Bloomington, IL?

Median rent in Bloomington is $1,270 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Bloomington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $260/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Cicero ($1,269/mo), Urbana ($1,268/mo), Dekalb ($1,267/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 Bloomington, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.