Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Brookfield, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

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

Brookfield median rent
$1,864/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $1,864 exceeds that threshold by $192/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 58 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Saint Charles, IL
$1,862/mo (33.4% of income)
Lisle, IL
$1,861/mo (33.4% of income)
Gurnee, IL
$1,861/mo (33.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Brookfield, IL?

Median rent in Brookfield is $1,864 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $1,864/mo, which is $192/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Brookfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 58 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $1,864.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a real estate agent?

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 real estate agent 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.