Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lima, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.

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

Lima median rent
$1,182/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
29.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Lima's median rent of $1,182 leaves roughly $36/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 50.5 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 Lima, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Silverton, OH
$1,181/mo (29.1% of income)
Athens, OH
$1,179/mo (29% of income)
Bowling Green, OH
$1,179/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lima

View full rent data for Lima, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lima, OH?

Median rent in Lima is $1,182 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 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 Lima?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Lima's current median rent is $1,182/mo, which leaves a $36/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 50.5 hours a month to cover Lima's median rent of $1,182.

Where is rent cheaper than Lima for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Silverton ($1,181/mo), Athens ($1,179/mo), Bowling Green ($1,179/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 Lima, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.