Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Meriden, CT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.8% of gross income.

Meriden rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Connecticut state estimate).

Meriden median rent
$1,748/mo
Bus Driver salary (Connecticut)
$57,002/yr
Rent as % of income
36.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,750, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,425/mo in rent. Meriden's median rent of $1,748 exceeds that threshold by $323/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 63.8 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 Meriden, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Naugatuck, CT
$1,740/mo (36.6% of income)
Naugatuck, CT
$1,739/mo (36.6% of income)
Killingly, CT
$1,738/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Meriden

View full rent data for Meriden, CT

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Meriden, CT?

Median rent in Meriden is $1,748 a month. A typical bus driver in Connecticut earns about $57,002 a year, which makes that rent 36.8% 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 Meriden?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Connecticut (~$57,002/yr) supports up to $1,425 a month in rent. Meriden's current median rent is $1,748/mo, which is $323/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Connecticut works roughly 63.8 hours a month to cover Meriden's median rent of $1,748.

Where is rent cheaper than Meriden for a bus driver?

Nearby Connecticut cities with lower median rent include Naugatuck ($1,740/mo), Naugatuck ($1,739/mo), Killingly ($1,738/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 Meriden, CT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.