Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Carol Stream, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.8% of gross income.

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

Carol Stream median rent
$1,844/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
54.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Carol Stream's median rent of $1,844 exceeds that threshold by $834/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 94.9 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 Carol Stream, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Glendale Heights, IL
$1,841/mo (54.7% of income)
Geneva, IL
$1,840/mo (54.7% of income)
Bensenville, IL
$1,840/mo (54.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carol Stream

View full rent data for Carol Stream, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Carol Stream, IL?

Median rent in Carol Stream is $1,844 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 54.8% 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 Carol Stream?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Carol Stream's current median rent is $1,844/mo, which is $834/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 94.9 hours a month to cover Carol Stream's median rent of $1,844.

Where is rent cheaper than Carol Stream for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Glendale Heights ($1,841/mo), Geneva ($1,840/mo), Bensenville ($1,840/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 Carol Stream, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.