Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Tonawanda, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

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

Tonawanda median rent
$1,281/mo
Bus Driver salary (New York)
$59,075/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,923, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,477/mo in rent. Tonawanda's median rent of $1,281 leaves roughly $196/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 45.1 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 Tonawanda, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Saratoga Springs, NY
$1,280/mo (26% of income)
Hamburg, NY
$1,278/mo (26% of income)
Hamburg, NY
$1,278/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tonawanda

View full rent data for Tonawanda, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Tonawanda, NY?

Median rent in Tonawanda is $1,281 a month. A typical bus driver in New York earns about $59,075 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Tonawanda?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New York (~$59,075/yr) supports up to $1,477 a month in rent. Tonawanda's current median rent is $1,281/mo, which leaves a $196/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New York works roughly 45.1 hours a month to cover Tonawanda's median rent of $1,281.

Where is rent cheaper than Tonawanda for a bus driver?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Saratoga Springs ($1,280/mo), Hamburg ($1,278/mo), Hamburg ($1,278/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 Tonawanda, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.