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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.7% of gross income.

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

Sycamore median rent
$1,543/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
27.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Sycamore's median rent of $1,543 leaves roughly $129/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 48 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 Sycamore, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Waukegan, IL
$1,542/mo (27.7% of income)
Woodridge, IL
$1,539/mo (27.6% of income)
Joliet, IL
$1,537/mo (27.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sycamore

View full rent data for Sycamore, IL

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Sycamore is $1,543 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 27.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Sycamore's current median rent is $1,543/mo, which leaves a $129/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 48 hours a month to cover Sycamore's median rent of $1,543.

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

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Waukegan ($1,542/mo), Woodridge ($1,539/mo), Joliet ($1,537/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 Sycamore, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.