Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Highland, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.2% of gross income.

Highland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Highland median rent
$1,557/mo
Bus Driver salary (Indiana)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
39.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Highland's median rent of $1,557 exceeds that threshold by $365/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 67.9 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Highland, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Greenfield, IN
$1,556/mo (39.2% of income)
Merrillville, IN
$1,555/mo (39.1% of income)
Greenwood, IN
$1,554/mo (39.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highland

View full rent data for Highland, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Highland, IN?

Median rent in Highland is $1,557 a month. A typical bus driver in Indiana earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 39.2% 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 Highland?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Indiana (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Highland's current median rent is $1,557/mo, which is $365/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Indiana works roughly 67.9 hours a month to cover Highland's median rent of $1,557.

Where is rent cheaper than Highland for a bus driver?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Greenfield ($1,556/mo), Merrillville ($1,555/mo), Greenwood ($1,554/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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