Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Richmond, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.9% of gross income.

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

Richmond median rent
$870/mo
Bus Driver salary (Indiana)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
21.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $870 leaves roughly $322/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 38 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 Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

New Castle, IN
$866/mo (21.8% of income)
Gary, IN
$865/mo (21.8% of income)
Marion, IN
$860/mo (21.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Richmond, IN?

Median rent in Richmond is $870 a month. A typical bus driver in Indiana earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 21.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Indiana (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $870/mo, which leaves a $322/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Indiana works roughly 38 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $870.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a bus driver?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include New Castle ($866/mo), Gary ($865/mo), Marion ($860/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 Richmond, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.