Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Barnstable, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 86.1% of gross income.

Barnstable rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Barnstable median rent
$2,925/mo
Bartender salary (Massachusetts)
$40,751/yr
Rent as % of income
86.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,396, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,019/mo in rent. Barnstable's median rent of $2,925 exceeds that threshold by $1,906/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 149.3 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Barnstable, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Bedford, MA
$2,924/mo (86.1% of income)
Bedford, MA
$2,922/mo (86% of income)
Wakefield, MA
$2,921/mo (86% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Barnstable

View full rent data for Barnstable, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Barnstable, MA?

Median rent in Barnstable is $2,925 a month. A typical bartender in Massachusetts earns about $40,751 a year, which makes that rent 86.1% 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 Barnstable?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Massachusetts (~$40,751/yr) supports up to $1,019 a month in rent. Barnstable's current median rent is $2,925/mo, which is $1,906/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bartender in Massachusetts works roughly 149.3 hours a month to cover Barnstable's median rent of $2,925.

Where is rent cheaper than Barnstable for a bartender?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($2,924/mo), Bedford ($2,922/mo), Wakefield ($2,921/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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