Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Chicago Heights, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.
Chicago Heights rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Chicago Heights, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chicago Heights
View full rent data for Chicago Heights, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Chicago Heights, IL?
Median rent in Chicago Heights is $1,498 a month. A typical police officer in Illinois earns about $78,815 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Chicago Heights?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Illinois (~$78,815/yr) supports up to $1,970 a month in rent. Chicago Heights's current median rent is $1,498/mo, which leaves a $472/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Chicago Heights?
At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a police officer in Illinois works roughly 39.5 hours a month to cover Chicago Heights's median rent of $1,498.
Where is rent cheaper than Chicago Heights for a police officer?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Bourbonnais ($1,496/mo), Alsip ($1,493/mo), Edwardsville ($1,492/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.