Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Edwardsville, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.6% of gross income.

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

Edwardsville median rent
$1,525/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
28.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Edwardsville's median rent of $1,525 leaves roughly $77/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 49.5 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 Edwardsville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Alsip, IL
$1,524/mo (28.5% of income)
Bourbonnais, IL
$1,524/mo (28.5% of income)
Forest Park, IL
$1,524/mo (28.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Edwardsville

View full rent data for Edwardsville, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Edwardsville, IL?

Median rent in Edwardsville is $1,525 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 28.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Edwardsville?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Edwardsville's current median rent is $1,525/mo, which leaves a $77/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 49.5 hours a month to cover Edwardsville's median rent of $1,525.

Where is rent cheaper than Edwardsville for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Alsip ($1,524/mo), Bourbonnais ($1,524/mo), Forest Park ($1,524/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 Edwardsville, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.