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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
#1 Ranked: Rockford — cost index 67, rent $1,151/mo, income $53,328
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Illinois using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Rockford comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Why Rockford ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 67 on the cost index, residents save roughly 44% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,151/month while the median household pulls in $53,328/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 67, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $172,610 — $294,760 below the national median.
It's worth mentioning — though it's outside our data model — that cities with these economics tend to attract remote workers, which can push prices up over time.
It's a strong position — but not without footnotes. Here's the state-level backdrop: Illinois averages a 104 cost index, $1,779/mo rent, and $91,148 income across 5 cities. That's $116 less than the national rent average. Chicago's premium versus downstate bargains — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. And for many people, take it or leave it — the data is what it is. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
#1-ranked Rockford has a cost index 37 points lower than the top-5 average of 104. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
Rent ranges from $1,151/mo in Rockford to $2,292/mo in Chicago — a monthly difference of $1,141, or $13,692 per year.
Rent in #1-ranked Rockford has increased from $1,087 to $1,151/mo over the past 12 months — a 6% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
146,120 residents · Illinois
Dive into Rockford's numbers: cost index 67 (44 points below national average), rent $1,151/month, income $53,328, and a home price of $172,610. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 67, while Healthcare runs 93. With 146,120 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
150,489 residents · Illinois
What does daily life actually cost in Joliet? Start with the 21% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. And for the typical household, on the category level, Housing (index 91) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $88,026 — worth pausing on — and homes at $255,981 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
113,310 residents · Illinois
Dive into Elgin's numbers: cost index 101 (10 points below national average), rent $1,736/month, income $88,316, and a home price of $323,259. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 100, while Housing runs 101. With 113,310 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
150,245 residents · Illinois
Naperville earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 126 cost index sits 15 points above the national baseline, and the $150,937 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $594,498 — $127,128 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 105, while Housing trails at 126.
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
Chicago comes in at #5. Rent is $2,292 a month. Household income is $75,134. The cost of living index is 134. You get the picture (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Rockford | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
2Joliet | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
3Elgin | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
4Naperville | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
5Chicago | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $70,347 |
We model what a $100K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Rockford ranks #1 in Illinois for this analysis with a cost index of 67 and median income of $53,328.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Rockford, rent would consume about 14% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Rockford (ranked #1) has a cost index of 67 and rent of $1,151/mo, while Chicago (ranked #5) has a cost index of 134 and rent of $2,292/mo — a 67-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Rockford is $1,151/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $744 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.95% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Rockford is approximately $70,347/year ($5,862/month). After median rent of $1,151/month, you'd have roughly $56,535/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Rockford is $172,610, which is 3.2× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Illinois has a 4.95% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.83%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.73%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.