Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Evanston, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.1% of gross income.

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

Evanston median rent
$2,562/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
76.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Evanston's median rent of $2,562 exceeds that threshold by $1,552/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 131.9 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 Evanston, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bloomingdale, IL
$2,552/mo (75.8% of income)
Round Lake, IL
$2,545/mo (75.6% of income)
La Grange, IL
$2,543/mo (75.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Evanston

View full rent data for Evanston, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Evanston, IL?

Median rent in Evanston is $2,562 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 76.1% 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 Evanston?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Evanston's current median rent is $2,562/mo, which is $1,552/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 131.9 hours a month to cover Evanston's median rent of $2,562.

Where is rent cheaper than Evanston for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Bloomingdale ($2,552/mo), Round Lake ($2,545/mo), La Grange ($2,543/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 Evanston, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.