Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Westlake, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.6% of gross income.

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

Westlake median rent
$1,853/mo
Bus Driver salary (Ohio)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
45.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Westlake's median rent of $1,853 exceeds that threshold by $635/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 79.1 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 Westlake, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Sixteen Mile Stand, OH
$1,852/mo (45.6% of income)
Shaker Heights, OH
$1,850/mo (45.6% of income)
Mason, OH
$1,844/mo (45.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Westlake

View full rent data for Westlake, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Westlake, OH?

Median rent in Westlake is $1,853 a month. A typical bus driver in Ohio earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 45.6% 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 Westlake?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Ohio (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Westlake's current median rent is $1,853/mo, which is $635/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Ohio works roughly 79.1 hours a month to cover Westlake's median rent of $1,853.

Where is rent cheaper than Westlake for a bus driver?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Sixteen Mile Stand ($1,852/mo), Shaker Heights ($1,850/mo), Mason ($1,844/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 Westlake, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.