Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Graham, NC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

Graham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Graham median rent
$1,382/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Carolina)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Graham's median rent of $1,382 exceeds that threshold by $164/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 59 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Graham, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Wilson, NC
$1,381/mo (34% of income)
Greensboro, NC
$1,381/mo (34% of income)
Jacksonville, NC
$1,377/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Graham

View full rent data for Graham, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Graham, NC?

Median rent in Graham is $1,382 a month. A typical bus driver in North Carolina earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 34% 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 Graham?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Carolina (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Graham's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which is $164/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in North Carolina works roughly 59 hours a month to cover Graham's median rent of $1,382.

Where is rent cheaper than Graham for a bus driver?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Wilson ($1,381/mo), Greensboro ($1,381/mo), Jacksonville ($1,377/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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