Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Madison, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 69.3% of gross income.

Madison rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Madison median rent
$3,354/mo
Bus Driver salary (New Jersey)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
69.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Madison's median rent of $3,354 exceeds that threshold by $1,903/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 120.2 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Madison, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Park Ridge, NJ
$3,353/mo (69.3% of income)
Morganville, NJ
$3,352/mo (69.3% of income)
Montvale, NJ
$3,351/mo (69.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison

View full rent data for Madison, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Madison, NJ?

Median rent in Madison is $3,354 a month. A typical bus driver in New Jersey earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 69.3% 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?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New Jersey (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $3,354/mo, which is $1,903/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New Jersey works roughly 120.2 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $3,354.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a bus driver?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Park Ridge ($3,353/mo), Morganville ($3,352/mo), Montvale ($3,351/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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