Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Essex, MD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29% of gross income.
Essex rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Essex, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Essex
View full rent data for Essex, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Essex, MD?
Median rent in Essex is $1,352 a month. A typical bus driver in Maryland earns about $55,966 a year, which makes that rent 29% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Essex?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Maryland (~$55,966/yr) supports up to $1,399 a month in rent. Essex's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $47/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Essex?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Maryland works roughly 50.2 hours a month to cover Essex's median rent of $1,352.
Where is rent cheaper than Essex for a bus driver?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hagerstown ($1,348/mo), Hagerstown ($1,345/mo), Hagerstown ($1,344/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.