Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Morton Grove, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.5% of gross income.

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

Morton Grove median rent
$2,483/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
46.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Morton Grove's median rent of $2,483 exceeds that threshold by $881/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 80.6 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 Morton Grove, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Glen Ellyn, IL
$2,480/mo (46.5% of income)
Oswego, IL
$2,477/mo (46.4% of income)
North Aurora, IL
$2,476/mo (46.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morton Grove

View full rent data for Morton Grove, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Morton Grove, IL?

Median rent in Morton Grove is $2,483 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 46.5% 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 Morton Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Morton Grove's current median rent is $2,483/mo, which is $881/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 80.6 hours a month to cover Morton Grove's median rent of $2,483.

Where is rent cheaper than Morton Grove for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Glen Ellyn ($2,480/mo), Oswego ($2,477/mo), North Aurora ($2,476/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 Morton Grove, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.