Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in West Fargo, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.2% of gross income.

West Fargo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

West Fargo median rent
$1,350/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Dakota)
$50,265/yr
Rent as % of income
32.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,189, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,257/mo in rent. West Fargo's median rent of $1,350 exceeds that threshold by $93/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 55.9 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than West Fargo, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Bismarck, ND
$1,349/mo (32.2% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,340/mo (32% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,332/mo (31.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Fargo

View full rent data for West Fargo, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in West Fargo, ND?

Median rent in West Fargo is $1,350 a month. A typical bus driver in North Dakota earns about $50,265 a year, which makes that rent 32.2% 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 West Fargo?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Dakota (~$50,265/yr) supports up to $1,257 a month in rent. West Fargo's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which is $93/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in North Dakota works roughly 55.9 hours a month to cover West Fargo's median rent of $1,350.

Where is rent cheaper than West Fargo for a bus driver?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Bismarck ($1,349/mo), Bismarck ($1,340/mo), Bismarck ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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