Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Shrewsbury, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 70.6% of gross income.

Shrewsbury rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Shrewsbury median rent
$2,399/mo
Bartender salary (Massachusetts)
$40,751/yr
Rent as % of income
70.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,396, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,019/mo in rent. Shrewsbury's median rent of $2,399 exceeds that threshold by $1,380/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 122.4 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 Shrewsbury, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Medford, MA
$2,398/mo (70.6% of income)
Winthrop, MA
$2,396/mo (70.6% of income)
Weymouth, MA
$2,396/mo (70.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Shrewsbury

View full rent data for Shrewsbury, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Shrewsbury, MA?

Median rent in Shrewsbury is $2,399 a month. A typical bartender in Massachusetts earns about $40,751 a year, which makes that rent 70.6% 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 Shrewsbury?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Massachusetts (~$40,751/yr) supports up to $1,019 a month in rent. Shrewsbury's current median rent is $2,399/mo, which is $1,380/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bartender in Massachusetts works roughly 122.4 hours a month to cover Shrewsbury's median rent of $2,399.

Where is rent cheaper than Shrewsbury for a bartender?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Medford ($2,398/mo), Winthrop ($2,396/mo), Weymouth ($2,396/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 Shrewsbury, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.