Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Dedham, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.3% of gross income.

Dedham rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Dedham median rent
$3,121/mo
Bus Driver salary (Massachusetts)
$60,111/yr
Rent as % of income
62.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,009, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,503/mo in rent. Dedham's median rent of $3,121 exceeds that threshold by $1,618/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 108 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 Dedham, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Burlington, MA
$3,120/mo (62.3% of income)
Saugus, MA
$3,119/mo (62.3% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,118/mo (62.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dedham

View full rent data for Dedham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Dedham, MA?

Median rent in Dedham is $3,121 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 62.3% 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 Dedham?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Dedham's current median rent is $3,121/mo, which is $1,618/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 108 hours a month to cover Dedham's median rent of $3,121.

Where is rent cheaper than Dedham for a bus driver?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Burlington ($3,120/mo), Saugus ($3,119/mo), Winchester ($3,118/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 Dedham, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.