Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Utica, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.

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

Utica median rent
$1,431/mo
Bus Driver salary (New York)
$59,075/yr
Rent as % of income
29.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,923, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,477/mo in rent. Utica's median rent of $1,431 leaves roughly $46/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 50.4 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 Utica, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Watervliet, NY
$1,430/mo (29% of income)
Rochester, NY
$1,430/mo (29% of income)
Rochester, NY
$1,430/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Utica

View full rent data for Utica, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Utica, NY?

Median rent in Utica is $1,431 a month. A typical bus driver in New York earns about $59,075 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Utica?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New York (~$59,075/yr) supports up to $1,477 a month in rent. Utica's current median rent is $1,431/mo, which leaves a $46/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New York works roughly 50.4 hours a month to cover Utica's median rent of $1,431.

Where is rent cheaper than Utica for a bus driver?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Watervliet ($1,430/mo), Rochester ($1,430/mo), Rochester ($1,430/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 Utica, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.