Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Union, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.1% of gross income.

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

Union median rent
$2,518/mo
Bus Driver salary (New Jersey)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
52.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Union's median rent of $2,518 exceeds that threshold by $1,067/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 90.2 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 Union, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Harrison, NJ
$2,517/mo (52% of income)
North Brunswick, NJ
$2,517/mo (52% of income)
Ridgefield, NJ
$2,517/mo (52% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Union

View full rent data for Union, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Union, NJ?

Median rent in Union is $2,518 a month. A typical bus driver in New Jersey earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 52.1% 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 Union?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New Jersey (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Union's current median rent is $2,518/mo, which is $1,067/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New Jersey works roughly 90.2 hours a month to cover Union's median rent of $2,518.

Where is rent cheaper than Union for a bus driver?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Harrison ($2,517/mo), North Brunswick ($2,517/mo), Ridgefield ($2,517/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 Union, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.