Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Lake Forest, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 100.1% of gross income.

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

Lake Forest median rent
$5,171/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Illinois)
$62,006/yr
Rent as % of income
100.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,167, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,550/mo in rent. Lake Forest's median rent of $5,171 exceeds that threshold by $3,621/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 173.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Lake Forest, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Wilmette, IL
$4,246/mo (82.2% of income)
Wilmette, IL
$4,223/mo (81.7% of income)
Wilmette, IL
$4,213/mo (81.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Forest

View full rent data for Lake Forest, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Lake Forest, IL?

Median rent in Lake Forest is $5,171 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Illinois earns about $62,006 a year, which makes that rent 100.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Lake Forest?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Illinois (~$62,006/yr) supports up to $1,550 a month in rent. Lake Forest's current median rent is $5,171/mo, which is $3,621/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Lake Forest?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Illinois works roughly 173.5 hours a month to cover Lake Forest's median rent of $5,171.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Forest for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Wilmette ($4,246/mo), Wilmette ($4,223/mo), Wilmette ($4,213/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Illinois state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lake Forest, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.