Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.6% of gross income.

Scarborough rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Scarborough median rent
$2,714/mo
Bus Driver salary (Maine)
$48,193/yr
Rent as % of income
67.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,016, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,205/mo in rent. Scarborough's median rent of $2,714 exceeds that threshold by $1,509/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 117.1 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 Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Freeport, ME
$2,700/mo (67.2% of income)
Gorham, ME
$2,650/mo (66% of income)
Freeport, ME
$2,648/mo (65.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scarborough

View full rent data for Scarborough, ME →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Scarborough, ME?

Median rent in Scarborough is $2,714 a month. A typical bus driver in Maine earns about $48,193 a year, which makes that rent 67.6% 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 Scarborough?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Maine (~$48,193/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,714/mo, which is $1,509/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Maine works roughly 117.1 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,714.

Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for a bus driver?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,700/mo), Gorham ($2,650/mo), Freeport ($2,648/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 Scarborough, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.