Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Newark, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

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

Newark median rent
$1,352/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Newark's median rent of $1,352 exceeds that threshold by $134/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 57.7 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 Newark, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Norwood, OH
$1,350/mo (33.3% of income)
Mount Vernon, OH
$1,350/mo (33.3% of income)
North Canton, OH
$1,350/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newark

View full rent data for Newark, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Newark, OH?

Median rent in Newark is $1,352 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% 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 Newark?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Newark's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which is $134/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover Newark's median rent of $1,352.

Where is rent cheaper than Newark for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Norwood ($1,350/mo), Mount Vernon ($1,350/mo), North Canton ($1,350/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 Newark, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.