Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.4% of gross income.

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

Van Buren median rent
$1,019/mo
Bus Driver salary (Arkansas)
$43,011/yr
Rent as % of income
28.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,584, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Van Buren's median rent of $1,019 leaves roughly $56/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 49.3 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 Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (28.4% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (28.4% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Van Buren

View full rent data for Van Buren, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Van Buren, AR?

Median rent in Van Buren is $1,019 a month. A typical bus driver in Arkansas earns about $43,011 a year, which makes that rent 28.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Van Buren?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Arkansas (~$43,011/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which leaves a $56/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Arkansas works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a bus driver?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/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 Van Buren, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.