Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Fairhaven, MA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.
Fairhaven rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
About rent and an auto mechanic salary
Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Fairhaven, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairhaven
View full rent data for Fairhaven, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Fairhaven, MA?
Median rent in Fairhaven is $1,800 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Massachusetts earns about $59,473 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Fairhaven?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Massachusetts (~$59,473/yr) supports up to $1,487 a month in rent. Fairhaven's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $313/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Fairhaven?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, an auto mechanic in Massachusetts works roughly 63 hours a month to cover Fairhaven's median rent of $1,800.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairhaven for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Holyoke ($1,799/mo), Fitchburg ($1,799/mo), Leominster ($1,798/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.