Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Newark, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48% of gross income.

Newark rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Newark median rent
$2,113/mo
Bus Driver salary (Delaware)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
48%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Newark's median rent of $2,113 exceeds that threshold by $792/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 83.2 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Newark, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Bear, DE
$2,105/mo (47.8% of income)
Lewes, DE
$2,097/mo (47.6% of income)
Milford, DE
$2,092/mo (47.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newark

View full rent data for Newark, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Newark, DE?

Median rent in Newark is $2,113 a month. A typical bus driver in Delaware earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 48% 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 Newark?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Delaware (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Newark's current median rent is $2,113/mo, which is $792/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Delaware works roughly 83.2 hours a month to cover Newark's median rent of $2,113.

Where is rent cheaper than Newark for a bus driver?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Bear ($2,105/mo), Lewes ($2,097/mo), Milford ($2,092/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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