Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Burlington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.4% of gross income.

Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$3,328/mo
Bus Driver salary (Massachusetts)
$60,111/yr
Rent as % of income
66.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,009, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,503/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $3,328 exceeds that threshold by $1,825/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 115.2 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,327/mo (66.4% of income)
Newton, MA
$3,326/mo (66.4% of income)
Somerville, MA
$3,325/mo (66.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Burlington, MA?

Median rent in Burlington is $3,328 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 66.4% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $3,328/mo, which is $1,825/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 115.2 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $3,328.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a bus driver?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,327/mo), Newton ($3,326/mo), Somerville ($3,325/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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