Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Brookfield, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.4% of gross income.

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

Brookfield median rent
$1,828/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
40.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $1,828 exceeds that threshold by $472/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 70.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Brookfield, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Elgin, IL
$1,822/mo (40.3% of income)
Carol Stream, IL
$1,822/mo (40.3% of income)
Carol Stream, IL
$1,820/mo (40.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Brookfield, IL?

Median rent in Brookfield is $1,828 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 40.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $1,828/mo, which is $472/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Brookfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 70.1 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $1,828.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Elgin ($1,822/mo), Carol Stream ($1,822/mo), Carol Stream ($1,820/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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