Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Westwood, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 92.5% of gross income.

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

Westwood median rent
$3,140/mo
Bartender salary (Massachusetts)
$40,751/yr
Rent as % of income
92.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,396, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,019/mo in rent. Westwood's median rent of $3,140 exceeds that threshold by $2,121/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 160.3 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 Westwood, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Needham, MA
$3,137/mo (92.4% of income)
Saugus, MA
$3,134/mo (92.3% of income)
Burlington, MA
$3,131/mo (92.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Westwood

View full rent data for Westwood, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Westwood, MA?

Median rent in Westwood is $3,140 a month. A typical bartender in Massachusetts earns about $40,751 a year, which makes that rent 92.5% 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 Westwood?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Massachusetts (~$40,751/yr) supports up to $1,019 a month in rent. Westwood's current median rent is $3,140/mo, which is $2,121/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bartender in Massachusetts works roughly 160.3 hours a month to cover Westwood's median rent of $3,140.

Where is rent cheaper than Westwood for a bartender?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Needham ($3,137/mo), Saugus ($3,134/mo), Burlington ($3,131/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 Westwood, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.