Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Auburn, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.4% of gross income.

Auburn rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Auburn median rent
$1,503/mo
Bus Driver salary (Maine)
$48,193/yr
Rent as % of income
37.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,016, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,205/mo in rent. Auburn's median rent of $1,503 exceeds that threshold by $298/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 64.9 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Auburn, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Lewiston, ME
$1,480/mo (36.9% of income)
Lewiston, ME
$1,479/mo (36.8% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,477/mo (36.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Auburn

View full rent data for Auburn, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Auburn, ME?

Median rent in Auburn is $1,503 a month. A typical bus driver in Maine earns about $48,193 a year, which makes that rent 37.4% 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 Auburn?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Maine (~$48,193/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Auburn's current median rent is $1,503/mo, which is $298/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Maine works roughly 64.9 hours a month to cover Auburn's median rent of $1,503.

Where is rent cheaper than Auburn for a bus driver?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Lewiston ($1,480/mo), Lewiston ($1,479/mo), Bangor ($1,477/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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