Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Clarkston, MI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.9% of gross income.

Clarkston rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Clarkston median rent
$1,656/mo
Bus Driver salary (Michigan)
$49,747/yr
Rent as % of income
39.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,146, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,244/mo in rent. Clarkston's median rent of $1,656 exceeds that threshold by $412/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 69.2 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Clarkston, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Holland, MI
$1,655/mo (39.9% of income)
Rochester Hills, MI
$1,653/mo (39.9% of income)
Portage, MI
$1,653/mo (39.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clarkston

View full rent data for Clarkston, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Clarkston, MI?

Median rent in Clarkston is $1,656 a month. A typical bus driver in Michigan earns about $49,747 a year, which makes that rent 39.9% 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 Clarkston?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Michigan (~$49,747/yr) supports up to $1,244 a month in rent. Clarkston's current median rent is $1,656/mo, which is $412/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Michigan works roughly 69.2 hours a month to cover Clarkston's median rent of $1,656.

Where is rent cheaper than Clarkston for a bus driver?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Holland ($1,655/mo), Rochester Hills ($1,653/mo), Portage ($1,653/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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