Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lawrence, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.5% of gross income.

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

Lawrence median rent
$2,379/mo
Bus Driver salary (Massachusetts)
$60,111/yr
Rent as % of income
47.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,009, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,503/mo in rent. Lawrence's median rent of $2,379 exceeds that threshold by $876/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 82.3 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Methuen, MA
$2,378/mo (47.5% of income)
Brockton, MA
$2,377/mo (47.5% of income)
Franklin, MA
$2,375/mo (47.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawrence

View full rent data for Lawrence, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lawrence, MA?

Median rent in Lawrence is $2,379 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 47.5% 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 Lawrence?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $2,379/mo, which is $876/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 82.3 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $2,379.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a bus driver?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Methuen ($2,378/mo), Brockton ($2,377/mo), Franklin ($2,375/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 Lawrence, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.