Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Waterloo, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.9% of gross income.

Waterloo rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Waterloo median rent
$1,350/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Illinois)
$101,704/yr
Rent as % of income
15.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,475, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,543/mo in rent. Waterloo's median rent of $1,350 leaves roughly $1,193/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 27.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Swansea, IL
$1,349/mo (15.9% of income)
Champaign, IL
$1,348/mo (15.9% of income)
Cicero, IL
$1,345/mo (15.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waterloo

View full rent data for Waterloo, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Waterloo, IL?

Median rent in Waterloo is $1,350 a month. A typical physical therapist in Illinois earns about $101,704 a year, which makes that rent 15.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Waterloo?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Illinois (~$101,704/yr) supports up to $2,543 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which leaves a $1,193/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Waterloo?

At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a physical therapist in Illinois works roughly 27.6 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $1,350.

Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a physical therapist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Swansea ($1,349/mo), Champaign ($1,348/mo), Cicero ($1,345/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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