Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Macomb, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.2% of gross income.

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

Macomb median rent
$919/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
17.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Macomb's median rent of $919 leaves roughly $683/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 29.8 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 Macomb, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Rock Island, IL
$918/mo (17.2% of income)
Pekin, IL
$917/mo (17.2% of income)
Quincy, IL
$905/mo (17% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Macomb

View full rent data for Macomb, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Macomb, IL?

Median rent in Macomb is $919 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 17.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Macomb?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Macomb's current median rent is $919/mo, which leaves a $683/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 29.8 hours a month to cover Macomb's median rent of $919.

Where is rent cheaper than Macomb for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rock Island ($918/mo), Pekin ($917/mo), Quincy ($905/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 Macomb, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.