Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Brookfield, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.3% of gross income.

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

Brookfield median rent
$1,828/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
54.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $1,828 exceeds that threshold by $818/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 94.1 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 Brookfield, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Elgin, IL
$1,822/mo (54.1% of income)
Carol Stream, IL
$1,822/mo (54.1% of income)
Carol Stream, IL
$1,820/mo (54.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Brookfield, IL?

Median rent in Brookfield is $1,828 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 54.3% 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 Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $1,828/mo, which is $818/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 94.1 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $1,828.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Elgin ($1,822/mo), Carol Stream ($1,822/mo), Carol Stream ($1,820/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 Brookfield, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.