Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Wood River, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.7% of gross income.

Wood River rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Wood River median rent
$1,156/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
20.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Wood River's median rent of $1,156 leaves roughly $516/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 35.9 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 Wood River, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Peoria, IL
$1,151/mo (20.6% of income)
Kankakee, IL
$1,150/mo (20.6% of income)
Peoria Heights, IL
$1,150/mo (20.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wood River

View full rent data for Wood River, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Wood River, IL?

Median rent in Wood River is $1,156 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 20.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Wood River?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Wood River's current median rent is $1,156/mo, which leaves a $516/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 35.9 hours a month to cover Wood River's median rent of $1,156.

Where is rent cheaper than Wood River for a real estate agent?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Peoria ($1,151/mo), Kankakee ($1,150/mo), Peoria Heights ($1,150/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 Wood River, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.