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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.7% of gross income.

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

New Castle median rent
$743/mo
Bus Driver salary (Indiana)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
18.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $743 leaves roughly $449/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 32.4 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 Castle, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Marion, IN
$731/mo (18.4% of income)
Anderson, IN
$724/mo (18.2% of income)
Evansville, IN
$704/mo (17.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, IN

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in New Castle is $743 a month. A typical bus driver in Indiana earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 18.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Indiana (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $743/mo, which leaves a $449/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Indiana works roughly 32.4 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $743.

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

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Marion ($731/mo), Anderson ($724/mo), Evansville ($704/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 Castle, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.