Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Downers Grove, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.2% of gross income.

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

Downers Grove median rent
$2,264/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
67.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264 exceeds that threshold by $1,254/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 116.6 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 Downers Grove, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Darien, IL
$2,263/mo (67.2% of income)
North Aurora, IL
$2,263/mo (67.2% of income)
Highwood, IL
$2,262/mo (67.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Downers Grove

View full rent data for Downers Grove, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Downers Grove, IL?

Median rent in Downers Grove is $2,264 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 67.2% 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 Downers Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Downers Grove's current median rent is $2,264/mo, which is $1,254/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 116.6 hours a month to cover Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264.

Where is rent cheaper than Downers Grove for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Darien ($2,263/mo), North Aurora ($2,263/mo), Highwood ($2,262/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 Downers Grove, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.