Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in New Hope, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.1% of gross income.

New Hope rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

New Hope median rent
$1,442/mo
Bus Driver salary (Minnesota)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
32.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. New Hope's median rent of $1,442 exceeds that threshold by $95/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 55.7 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than New Hope, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

New Brighton, MN
$1,441/mo (32.1% of income)
Fridley, MN
$1,441/mo (32.1% of income)
Saint Paul, MN
$1,439/mo (32% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Hope

View full rent data for New Hope, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in New Hope, MN?

Median rent in New Hope is $1,442 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 32.1% 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 New Hope?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. New Hope's current median rent is $1,442/mo, which is $95/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 55.7 hours a month to cover New Hope's median rent of $1,442.

Where is rent cheaper than New Hope for a bus driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include New Brighton ($1,441/mo), Fridley ($1,441/mo), Saint Paul ($1,439/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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