Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Irondale, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.2% of gross income.

Irondale rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Irondale median rent
$2,197/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alabama)
$44,565/yr
Rent as % of income
59.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,714, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,114/mo in rent. Irondale's median rent of $2,197 exceeds that threshold by $1,083/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 102.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Irondale, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Chelsea, AL
$2,169/mo (58.4% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,164/mo (58.3% of income)
Chelsea, AL
$2,151/mo (57.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Irondale

View full rent data for Irondale, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Irondale, AL?

Median rent in Irondale is $2,197 a month. A typical bus driver in Alabama earns about $44,565 a year, which makes that rent 59.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Irondale?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alabama (~$44,565/yr) supports up to $1,114 a month in rent. Irondale's current median rent is $2,197/mo, which is $1,083/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Irondale?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Alabama works roughly 102.5 hours a month to cover Irondale's median rent of $2,197.

Where is rent cheaper than Irondale for a bus driver?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Chelsea ($2,169/mo), Fairhope ($2,164/mo), Chelsea ($2,151/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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