Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Park Forest, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.8% of gross income.

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

Park Forest median rent
$1,981/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
58.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Park Forest's median rent of $1,981 exceeds that threshold by $971/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 102 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 Park Forest, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Wheeling, IL
$1,979/mo (58.8% of income)
Wheeling, IL
$1,979/mo (58.8% of income)
Wheeling, IL
$1,978/mo (58.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Park Forest

View full rent data for Park Forest, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Park Forest, IL?

Median rent in Park Forest is $1,981 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 58.8% 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 Park Forest?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Park Forest's current median rent is $1,981/mo, which is $971/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 102 hours a month to cover Park Forest's median rent of $1,981.

Where is rent cheaper than Park Forest for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Wheeling ($1,979/mo), Wheeling ($1,979/mo), Wheeling ($1,978/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 Park Forest, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.