Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Norfolk, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32% of gross income.

Norfolk rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Norfolk median rent
$1,286/mo
Bus Driver salary (Nebraska)
$48,193/yr
Rent as % of income
32%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,016, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,205/mo in rent. Norfolk's median rent of $1,286 exceeds that threshold by $81/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 55.5 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Norfolk, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Lincoln, NE
$1,284/mo (32% of income)
Lincoln, NE
$1,281/mo (31.9% of income)
Lexington, NE
$1,280/mo (31.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Norfolk

View full rent data for Norfolk, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Norfolk, NE?

Median rent in Norfolk is $1,286 a month. A typical bus driver in Nebraska earns about $48,193 a year, which makes that rent 32% 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 Norfolk?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Nebraska (~$48,193/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Norfolk's current median rent is $1,286/mo, which is $81/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Nebraska works roughly 55.5 hours a month to cover Norfolk's median rent of $1,286.

Where is rent cheaper than Norfolk for a bus driver?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Lincoln ($1,284/mo), Lincoln ($1,281/mo), Lexington ($1,280/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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