Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Newton, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.9% of gross income.

Newton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Newton median rent
$1,084/mo
Bus Driver salary (Kansas)
$46,638/yr
Rent as % of income
27.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,887, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,166/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $1,084 leaves roughly $82/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 48.3 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Newton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Wichita, KS
$1,080/mo (27.8% of income)
Manhattan, KS
$1,080/mo (27.8% of income)
Salina, KS
$1,074/mo (27.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Newton, KS?

Median rent in Newton is $1,084 a month. A typical bus driver in Kansas earns about $46,638 a year, which makes that rent 27.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Kansas (~$46,638/yr) supports up to $1,166 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $1,084/mo, which leaves a $82/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Kansas works roughly 48.3 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $1,084.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a bus driver?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Wichita ($1,080/mo), Manhattan ($1,080/mo), Salina ($1,074/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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