Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?

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

Lake in the Hills rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Lake in the Hills median rent
$2,160/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
40.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Lake in the Hills's median rent of $2,160 exceeds that threshold by $558/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 70.1 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 Lake in the Hills, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Buffalo Grove, IL
$2,159/mo (40.4% of income)
Vernon Hills, IL
$2,159/mo (40.4% of income)
Streamwood, IL
$2,158/mo (40.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake in the Hills

View full rent data for Lake in the Hills, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?

Median rent in Lake in the Hills is $2,160 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 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 firefighter afford in Lake in the Hills?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Lake in the Hills's current median rent is $2,160/mo, which is $558/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Lake in the Hills?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 70.1 hours a month to cover Lake in the Hills's median rent of $2,160.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake in the Hills for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Buffalo Grove ($2,159/mo), Vernon Hills ($2,159/mo), Streamwood ($2,158/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 Lake in the Hills, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.