Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lancaster, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.2% of gross income.

Lancaster rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Lancaster median rent
$2,403/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
47.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Lancaster's median rent of $2,403 exceeds that threshold by $874/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 81.7 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 California cities have lower median rent than Lancaster, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Alhambra, CA
$2,402/mo (47.1% of income)
Rocklin, CA
$2,401/mo (47.1% of income)
Rowland Heights, CA
$2,400/mo (47.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lancaster

View full rent data for Lancaster, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lancaster, CA?

Median rent in Lancaster is $2,403 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 47.2% 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 Lancaster?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Lancaster's current median rent is $2,403/mo, which is $874/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 81.7 hours a month to cover Lancaster's median rent of $2,403.

Where is rent cheaper than Lancaster for a bus driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Alhambra ($2,402/mo), Rocklin ($2,401/mo), Rowland Heights ($2,400/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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