Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Grafton, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.1% of gross income.

Grafton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Grafton median rent
$1,783/mo
Bartender salary (Wisconsin)
$33,374/yr
Rent as % of income
64.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,781, and the 30% rule supports up to $834/mo in rent. Grafton's median rent of $1,783 exceeds that threshold by $949/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 111.1 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Grafton, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Oak Creek, WI
$1,782/mo (64.1% of income)
Fitchburg, WI
$1,780/mo (64% of income)
Oak Creek, WI
$1,779/mo (64% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grafton

View full rent data for Grafton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Grafton, WI?

Median rent in Grafton is $1,783 a month. A typical bartender in Wisconsin earns about $33,374 a year, which makes that rent 64.1% 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 Grafton?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Wisconsin (~$33,374/yr) supports up to $834 a month in rent. Grafton's current median rent is $1,783/mo, which is $949/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Wisconsin works roughly 111.1 hours a month to cover Grafton's median rent of $1,783.

Where is rent cheaper than Grafton for a bartender?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oak Creek ($1,782/mo), Fitchburg ($1,780/mo), Oak Creek ($1,779/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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