Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Manchester, CT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.7% of gross income.

Manchester rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Connecticut state estimate).

Manchester median rent
$2,029/mo
Bus Driver salary (Connecticut)
$57,002/yr
Rent as % of income
42.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,750, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,425/mo in rent. Manchester's median rent of $2,029 exceeds that threshold by $604/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 74 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 Connecticut cities have lower median rent than Manchester, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Groton, CT
$2,028/mo (42.7% of income)
New Haven, CT
$2,028/mo (42.7% of income)
Bridgeport, CT
$2,027/mo (42.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Manchester

View full rent data for Manchester, CT

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Manchester, CT?

Median rent in Manchester is $2,029 a month. A typical bus driver in Connecticut earns about $57,002 a year, which makes that rent 42.7% 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 Manchester?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Connecticut (~$57,002/yr) supports up to $1,425 a month in rent. Manchester's current median rent is $2,029/mo, which is $604/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Connecticut works roughly 74 hours a month to cover Manchester's median rent of $2,029.

Where is rent cheaper than Manchester for a bus driver?

Nearby Connecticut cities with lower median rent include Groton ($2,028/mo), New Haven ($2,028/mo), Bridgeport ($2,027/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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