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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

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

Downers Grove median rent
$2,264/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Illinois)
$49,531/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,128, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,238/mo in rent. Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264 exceeds that threshold by $1,026/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Downers Grove, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Darien, IL
$2,263/mo (54.8% of income)
North Aurora, IL
$2,263/mo (54.8% of income)
Highwood, IL
$2,262/mo (54.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Downers Grove

View full rent data for Downers Grove, IL

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Downers Grove is $2,264 a month. A typical dental assistant in Illinois earns about $49,531 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Downers Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Illinois (~$49,531/yr) supports up to $1,238 a month in rent. Downers Grove's current median rent is $2,264/mo, which is $1,026/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Illinois works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264.

Where is rent cheaper than Downers Grove for a dental 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 dental 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.