Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in McHenry, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.3% of gross income.

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

McHenry median rent
$1,997/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
59.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. McHenry's median rent of $1,997 exceeds that threshold by $987/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 102.8 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 McHenry, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Oak Park, IL
$1,995/mo (59.3% of income)
Lockport, IL
$1,995/mo (59.3% of income)
Rolling Meadows, IL
$1,994/mo (59.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for McHenry

View full rent data for McHenry, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in McHenry, IL?

Median rent in McHenry is $1,997 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 59.3% 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 McHenry?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. McHenry's current median rent is $1,997/mo, which is $987/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 102.8 hours a month to cover McHenry's median rent of $1,997.

Where is rent cheaper than McHenry for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Oak Park ($1,995/mo), Lockport ($1,995/mo), Rolling Meadows ($1,994/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 McHenry, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.