Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Kettering, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.7% of gross income.

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

Kettering median rent
$1,366/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
33.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Kettering's median rent of $1,366 exceeds that threshold by $148/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 58.3 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 Kettering, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fairborn, OH
$1,365/mo (33.6% of income)
Garfield Heights, OH
$1,365/mo (33.6% of income)
Mason, OH
$1,364/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kettering

View full rent data for Kettering, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Kettering, OH?

Median rent in Kettering is $1,366 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 33.7% 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 Kettering?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Kettering's current median rent is $1,366/mo, which is $148/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 58.3 hours a month to cover Kettering's median rent of $1,366.

Where is rent cheaper than Kettering for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Fairborn ($1,365/mo), Garfield Heights ($1,365/mo), Mason ($1,364/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 Kettering, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.