Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Brookfield, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.2% of gross income.

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

Brookfield median rent
$1,864/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
41.2%
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 $1,864 exceeds that threshold by $508/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 71.5 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:

Saint Charles, IL
$1,862/mo (41.2% of income)
Lisle, IL
$1,861/mo (41.2% of income)
Gurnee, IL
$1,861/mo (41.2% 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 $1,864 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 41.2% 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 $1,864/mo, which is $508/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 71.5 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $1,864.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Saint Charles ($1,862/mo), Lisle ($1,861/mo), Gurnee ($1,861/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.