Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lexington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.3% of gross income.

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

Lexington median rent
$4,274/mo
Bus Driver salary (Massachusetts)
$60,111/yr
Rent as % of income
85.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,009, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,503/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $4,274 exceeds that threshold by $2,771/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 147.9 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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Brookline, MA
$4,137/mo (82.6% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,107/mo (82% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,072/mo (81.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lexington, MA?

Median rent in Lexington is $4,274 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 85.3% 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 Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $4,274/mo, which is $2,771/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 147.9 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $4,274.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a bus driver?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brookline ($4,137/mo), Brookline ($4,107/mo), Brookline ($4,072/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 Lexington, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.