Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Chicago Ridge, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.1% of gross income.

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

Chicago Ridge median rent
$1,519/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
45.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Chicago Ridge's median rent of $1,519 exceeds that threshold by $509/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 78.2 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 Chicago Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Alsip, IL
$1,518/mo (45.1% of income)
Alsip, IL
$1,516/mo (45% of income)
Alsip, IL
$1,516/mo (45% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chicago Ridge

View full rent data for Chicago Ridge, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Chicago Ridge, IL?

Median rent in Chicago Ridge is $1,519 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 45.1% 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 Chicago Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Chicago Ridge's current median rent is $1,519/mo, which is $509/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 78.2 hours a month to cover Chicago Ridge's median rent of $1,519.

Where is rent cheaper than Chicago Ridge for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Alsip ($1,518/mo), Alsip ($1,516/mo), Alsip ($1,516/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 Chicago Ridge, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.