Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Southold, NY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 86.3% of gross income.

Southold rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Southold median rent
$4,250/mo
Bus Driver salary (New York)
$59,075/yr
Rent as % of income
86.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,923, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,477/mo in rent. Southold's median rent of $4,250 exceeds that threshold by $2,773/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 149.6 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 York cities have lower median rent than Southold, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Port Washington, NY
$4,208/mo (85.5% of income)
Mamaroneck, NY
$4,202/mo (85.4% of income)
Massapequa, NY
$4,175/mo (84.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southold

View full rent data for Southold, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Southold, NY?

Median rent in Southold is $4,250 a month. A typical bus driver in New York earns about $59,075 a year, which makes that rent 86.3% 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 Southold?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New York (~$59,075/yr) supports up to $1,477 a month in rent. Southold's current median rent is $4,250/mo, which is $2,773/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New York works roughly 149.6 hours a month to cover Southold's median rent of $4,250.

Where is rent cheaper than Southold for a bus driver?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Port Washington ($4,208/mo), Mamaroneck ($4,202/mo), Massapequa ($4,175/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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