Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Waltham, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.7% of gross income.
Waltham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Waltham, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waltham
View full rent data for Waltham, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Waltham, MA?
Median rent in Waltham is $3,042 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 60.7% 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 Waltham?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Waltham's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which is $1,539/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Waltham?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 105.3 hours a month to cover Waltham's median rent of $3,042.
Where is rent cheaper than Waltham for a bus driver?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($3,037/mo), Watertown ($3,036/mo), Watertown ($3,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.