Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Madison Heights, MI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Madison Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan state estimate).

Madison Heights median rent
$1,496/mo
Bus Driver salary (Michigan)
$49,747/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,146, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,244/mo in rent. Madison Heights's median rent of $1,496 exceeds that threshold by $252/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 62.6 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 Madison Heights, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Southfield, MI
$1,495/mo (36.1% of income)
Southfield, MI
$1,495/mo (36.1% of income)
Southfield, MI
$1,493/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison Heights

View full rent data for Madison Heights, MI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Madison Heights, MI?

Median rent in Madison Heights is $1,496 a month. A typical bus driver in Michigan earns about $49,747 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% 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 Madison Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Michigan (~$49,747/yr) supports up to $1,244 a month in rent. Madison Heights's current median rent is $1,496/mo, which is $252/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Michigan works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Madison Heights's median rent of $1,496.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison Heights for a bus driver?

Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Southfield ($1,495/mo), Southfield ($1,495/mo), Southfield ($1,493/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 Madison Heights, MI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.