Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Kensington, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.5% of gross income.

Kensington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Kensington median rent
$3,382/mo
Bus Driver salary (Maryland)
$55,966/yr
Rent as % of income
72.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,664, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,399/mo in rent. Kensington's median rent of $3,382 exceeds that threshold by $1,983/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 125.7 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Kensington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Clinton, MD
$3,242/mo (69.5% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,165/mo (67.9% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,094/mo (66.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kensington

View full rent data for Kensington, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Kensington, MD?

Median rent in Kensington is $3,382 a month. A typical bus driver in Maryland earns about $55,966 a year, which makes that rent 72.5% 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 Kensington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Maryland (~$55,966/yr) supports up to $1,399 a month in rent. Kensington's current median rent is $3,382/mo, which is $1,983/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Maryland works roughly 125.7 hours a month to cover Kensington's median rent of $3,382.

Where is rent cheaper than Kensington for a bus driver?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Clinton ($3,242/mo), North Potomac ($3,165/mo), North Potomac ($3,094/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kensington, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.