Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Dayton, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.7% of gross income.

Dayton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$1,207/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
29.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $1,207 leaves roughly $11/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.5 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Mayfield Heights, OH
$1,206/mo (29.7% of income)
Euclid, OH
$1,205/mo (29.7% of income)
Lancaster, OH
$1,205/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Dayton, OH?

Median rent in Dayton is $1,207 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 29.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,207/mo, which leaves a $11/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 51.5 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Mayfield Heights ($1,206/mo), Euclid ($1,205/mo), Lancaster ($1,205/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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