Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bensenville, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.9% of gross income.

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

Bensenville median rent
$1,865/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
34.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Bensenville's median rent of $1,865 exceeds that threshold by $263/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 60.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Bensenville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Glendale Heights, IL
$1,864/mo (34.9% of income)
Round Lake Beach, IL
$1,864/mo (34.9% of income)
Saint Charles, IL
$1,862/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bensenville

View full rent data for Bensenville, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bensenville, IL?

Median rent in Bensenville is $1,865 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 34.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Bensenville?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Bensenville's current median rent is $1,865/mo, which is $263/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Bensenville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 60.6 hours a month to cover Bensenville's median rent of $1,865.

Where is rent cheaper than Bensenville for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Glendale Heights ($1,864/mo), Round Lake Beach ($1,864/mo), Saint Charles ($1,862/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Illinois state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bensenville, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.