Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Carpentersville, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.8% of gross income.

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

Carpentersville median rent
$2,285/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
42.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Carpentersville's median rent of $2,285 exceeds that threshold by $683/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 74.2 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 Carpentersville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

La Grange, IL
$2,283/mo (42.8% of income)
Vernon Hills, IL
$2,282/mo (42.7% of income)
West Dundee, IL
$2,282/mo (42.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carpentersville

View full rent data for Carpentersville, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Carpentersville, IL?

Median rent in Carpentersville is $2,285 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 42.8% 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 Carpentersville?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Carpentersville's current median rent is $2,285/mo, which is $683/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 74.2 hours a month to cover Carpentersville's median rent of $2,285.

Where is rent cheaper than Carpentersville for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include La Grange ($2,283/mo), Vernon Hills ($2,282/mo), West Dundee ($2,282/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 Carpentersville, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.