Can An Accountant Afford Rent in Arlington, MA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.
Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
About rent and an accountant salary
Accountant pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. The cost-of-living premium that high-cost metros add to rent is offset, in most cases, by higher local accountant pay — but not entirely. At the national-average accountant salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,270 a month in rent, which is above the median rent in most metros tracked here. The per-city pages quantify the surplus or pinch in each market.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on an accountant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Arlington
View full rent data for Arlington, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can an accountant afford rent in Arlington, MA?
Median rent in Arlington is $3,043 a month. A typical accountant in Massachusetts earns about $105,305 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an accountant afford in Arlington?
Using the 30% rule, an accountant salary in Massachusetts (~$105,305/yr) supports up to $2,633 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $3,043/mo, which is $410/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an accountant work to cover rent in Arlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, an accountant in Massachusetts works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $3,043.
Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for an accountant?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Waltham ($3,042/mo), Hanover ($3,042/mo), Bedford ($3,037/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an accountant salary.