Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Natick, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.2% of gross income.

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

Natick median rent
$2,765/mo
Bus Driver salary (Massachusetts)
$60,111/yr
Rent as % of income
55.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,009, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,503/mo in rent. Natick's median rent of $2,765 exceeds that threshold by $1,262/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 95.7 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 Natick, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Somerville, MA
$2,764/mo (55.2% of income)
Revere, MA
$2,764/mo (55.2% of income)
Arlington, MA
$2,764/mo (55.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Natick

View full rent data for Natick, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Natick, MA?

Median rent in Natick is $2,765 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 55.2% 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 Natick?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Natick's current median rent is $2,765/mo, which is $1,262/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 95.7 hours a month to cover Natick's median rent of $2,765.

Where is rent cheaper than Natick for a bus driver?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($2,764/mo), Revere ($2,764/mo), Arlington ($2,764/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 Natick, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.