Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Clifton, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

Clifton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Clifton median rent
$1,371/mo
Bus Driver salary (Colorado)
$54,411/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,534, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,360/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $1,371 exceeds that threshold by $11/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 52.4 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Clifton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Manitou Springs, CO
$1,369/mo (30.2% of income)
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,369/mo (30.2% of income)
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,368/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Clifton, CO?

Median rent in Clifton is $1,371 a month. A typical bus driver in Colorado earns about $54,411 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Colorado (~$54,411/yr) supports up to $1,360 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $1,371/mo, which is $11/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Colorado works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $1,371.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a bus driver?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Manitou Springs ($1,369/mo), Manitou Springs ($1,369/mo), Manitou Springs ($1,368/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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