Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in New Albany, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

New Albany rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

New Albany median rent
$1,171/mo
Bus Driver salary (Indiana)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. New Albany's median rent of $1,171 leaves roughly $21/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.1 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 New Albany, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Lafayette, IN
$1,169/mo (29.4% of income)
Beech Grove, IN
$1,169/mo (29.4% of income)
Elkhart, IN
$1,166/mo (29.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Albany

View full rent data for New Albany, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in New Albany, IN?

Median rent in New Albany is $1,171 a month. A typical bus driver in Indiana earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in New Albany?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Indiana (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. New Albany's current median rent is $1,171/mo, which leaves a $21/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Indiana works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover New Albany's median rent of $1,171.

Where is rent cheaper than New Albany for a bus driver?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Lafayette ($1,169/mo), Beech Grove ($1,169/mo), Elkhart ($1,166/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 New Albany, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.