Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Kent, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.

Kent rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Kent median rent
$1,702/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
41.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Kent's median rent of $1,702 exceeds that threshold by $484/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 72.7 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 Kent, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Blacklick Estates, OH
$1,701/mo (41.9% of income)
Turpin Hills, OH
$1,701/mo (41.9% of income)
South Euclid, OH
$1,699/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kent

View full rent data for Kent, OH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Kent, OH?

Median rent in Kent is $1,702 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% 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 Kent?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Kent's current median rent is $1,702/mo, which is $484/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 72.7 hours a month to cover Kent's median rent of $1,702.

Where is rent cheaper than Kent for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Blacklick Estates ($1,701/mo), Turpin Hills ($1,701/mo), South Euclid ($1,699/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 Kent, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.