Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Decatur, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

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

Decatur median rent
$1,019/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,019 exceeds that threshold by $9/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 52.5 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Waukegan, IL
$1,018/mo (30.2% of income)
Dixon, IL
$1,018/mo (30.2% of income)
Wood River, IL
$1,017/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Decatur, IL?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,019 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which is $9/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 52.5 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Waukegan ($1,018/mo), Dixon ($1,018/mo), Wood River ($1,017/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 Decatur, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.