Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Elmwood Park, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.5% of gross income.

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

Elmwood Park median rent
$1,671/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Illinois)
$49,531/yr
Rent as % of income
40.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,128, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,238/mo in rent. Elmwood Park's median rent of $1,671 exceeds that threshold by $433/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 70.2 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 Elmwood Park, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Washington, IL
$1,670/mo (40.5% of income)
O Fallon, IL
$1,669/mo (40.4% of income)
O Fallon, IL
$1,668/mo (40.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elmwood Park

View full rent data for Elmwood Park, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Elmwood Park, IL?

Median rent in Elmwood Park is $1,671 a month. A typical dental assistant in Illinois earns about $49,531 a year, which makes that rent 40.5% 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 Elmwood Park?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Illinois (~$49,531/yr) supports up to $1,238 a month in rent. Elmwood Park's current median rent is $1,671/mo, which is $433/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Elmwood Park?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Illinois works roughly 70.2 hours a month to cover Elmwood Park's median rent of $1,671.

Where is rent cheaper than Elmwood Park for a dental assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Washington ($1,670/mo), O Fallon ($1,669/mo), O Fallon ($1,668/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 Elmwood Park, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.