Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Old Town, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

Old Town rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Old Town median rent
$1,801/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Maine)
$47,681/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Old Town's median rent of $1,801 exceeds that threshold by $609/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Old Town, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

South Portland, ME
$1,799/mo (45.3% of income)
Portland, ME
$1,780/mo (44.8% of income)
Rockland, ME
$1,775/mo (44.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Old Town

View full rent data for Old Town, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Old Town, ME?

Median rent in Old Town is $1,801 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Maine earns about $47,681 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Old Town?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Maine (~$47,681/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Old Town's current median rent is $1,801/mo, which is $609/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Old Town?

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Maine works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover Old Town's median rent of $1,801.

Where is rent cheaper than Old Town for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include South Portland ($1,799/mo), Portland ($1,780/mo), Rockland ($1,775/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maine state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Old Town, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.