Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Searcy, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.4% of gross income.

Searcy rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Searcy median rent
$1,125/mo
Bus Driver salary (Arkansas)
$43,011/yr
Rent as % of income
31.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,584, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Searcy's median rent of $1,125 exceeds that threshold by $50/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 54.4 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Searcy, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Hot Springs, AR
$1,123/mo (31.3% of income)
Austin, AR
$1,123/mo (31.3% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,122/mo (31.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Searcy

View full rent data for Searcy, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Searcy, AR?

Median rent in Searcy is $1,125 a month. A typical bus driver in Arkansas earns about $43,011 a year, which makes that rent 31.4% 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 Searcy?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Arkansas (~$43,011/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Searcy's current median rent is $1,125/mo, which is $50/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Arkansas works roughly 54.4 hours a month to cover Searcy's median rent of $1,125.

Where is rent cheaper than Searcy for a bus driver?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Hot Springs ($1,123/mo), Austin ($1,123/mo), North Little Rock ($1,122/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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