Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Exeter, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.9% of gross income.

Exeter rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Exeter median rent
$2,288/mo
Bartender salary (New Hampshire)
$36,184/yr
Rent as % of income
75.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,015, and the 30% rule supports up to $905/mo in rent. Exeter's median rent of $2,288 exceeds that threshold by $1,383/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 131.5 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 New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Exeter, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Hooksett, NH
$2,286/mo (75.8% of income)
Derry, NH
$2,278/mo (75.5% of income)
Dover, NH
$2,267/mo (75.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Exeter

View full rent data for Exeter, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Exeter, NH?

Median rent in Exeter is $2,288 a month. A typical bartender in New Hampshire earns about $36,184 a year, which makes that rent 75.9% 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 Exeter?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in New Hampshire (~$36,184/yr) supports up to $905 a month in rent. Exeter's current median rent is $2,288/mo, which is $1,383/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in New Hampshire works roughly 131.5 hours a month to cover Exeter's median rent of $2,288.

Where is rent cheaper than Exeter for a bartender?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Hooksett ($2,286/mo), Derry ($2,278/mo), Dover ($2,267/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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