Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Hamilton, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.8% of gross income.

Hamilton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Hamilton median rent
$1,535/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
37.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Hamilton's median rent of $1,535 exceeds that threshold by $317/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 65.5 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 Hamilton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Grove City, OH
$1,534/mo (37.8% of income)
Westerville, OH
$1,534/mo (37.8% of income)
Grove City, OH
$1,533/mo (37.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hamilton

View full rent data for Hamilton, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Hamilton, OH?

Median rent in Hamilton is $1,535 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 37.8% 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 Hamilton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Hamilton's current median rent is $1,535/mo, which is $317/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 65.5 hours a month to cover Hamilton's median rent of $1,535.

Where is rent cheaper than Hamilton for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Grove City ($1,534/mo), Westerville ($1,534/mo), Grove City ($1,533/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 Hamilton, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.