Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Westmont, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.2% of gross income.

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

Westmont median rent
$1,988/mo
Firefighter salary (Illinois)
$64,066/yr
Rent as % of income
37.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,602/mo in rent. Westmont's median rent of $1,988 exceeds that threshold by $386/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 64.5 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 Westmont, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Wheeling, IL
$1,984/mo (37.2% of income)
Wheeling, IL
$1,984/mo (37.2% of income)
Wheeling, IL
$1,984/mo (37.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Westmont

View full rent data for Westmont, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Westmont, IL?

Median rent in Westmont is $1,988 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 37.2% 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 Westmont?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Westmont's current median rent is $1,988/mo, which is $386/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 64.5 hours a month to cover Westmont's median rent of $1,988.

Where is rent cheaper than Westmont for a firefighter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Wheeling ($1,984/mo), Wheeling ($1,984/mo), Wheeling ($1,984/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 Westmont, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.