Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Middletown, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 91.5% of gross income.

Middletown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Middletown median rent
$2,733/mo
Bartender salary (Delaware)
$35,833/yr
Rent as % of income
91.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,986, and the 30% rule supports up to $896/mo in rent. Middletown's median rent of $2,733 exceeds that threshold by $1,837/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 158.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Delaware cities have lower median rent than Middletown, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Rehoboth Beach, DE
$2,623/mo (87.8% of income)
Rehoboth Beach, DE
$2,523/mo (84.5% of income)
Bear, DE
$2,345/mo (78.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Middletown

View full rent data for Middletown, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Middletown, DE?

Median rent in Middletown is $2,733 a month. A typical bartender in Delaware earns about $35,833 a year, which makes that rent 91.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Middletown?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Delaware (~$35,833/yr) supports up to $896 a month in rent. Middletown's current median rent is $2,733/mo, which is $1,837/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Middletown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Delaware works roughly 158.6 hours a month to cover Middletown's median rent of $2,733.

Where is rent cheaper than Middletown for a bartender?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Rehoboth Beach ($2,623/mo), Rehoboth Beach ($2,523/mo), Bear ($2,345/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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