Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Chatham, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.6% of gross income.

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

Chatham median rent
$1,704/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
50.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Chatham's median rent of $1,704 exceeds that threshold by $694/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 87.7 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 Chatham, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Chicago, IL
$1,703/mo (50.6% of income)
Calumet City, IL
$1,702/mo (50.6% of income)
Evanston, IL
$1,701/mo (50.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chatham

View full rent data for Chatham, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Chatham, IL?

Median rent in Chatham is $1,704 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 50.6% 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 Chatham?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Chatham's current median rent is $1,704/mo, which is $694/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 87.7 hours a month to cover Chatham's median rent of $1,704.

Where is rent cheaper than Chatham for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Chicago ($1,703/mo), Calumet City ($1,702/mo), Evanston ($1,701/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 Chatham, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.