Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Ponca City, OK?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.

Ponca City rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Ponca City median rent
$808/mo
Bus Driver salary (Oklahoma)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
21.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Ponca City's median rent of $808 leaves roughly $332/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 36.9 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Ponca City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Lawton, OK
$788/mo (20.7% of income)
Lawton, OK
$728/mo (19.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ponca City

View full rent data for Ponca City, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Ponca City, OK?

Median rent in Ponca City is $808 a month. A typical bus driver in Oklahoma earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Ponca City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oklahoma (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Ponca City's current median rent is $808/mo, which leaves a $332/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Oklahoma works roughly 36.9 hours a month to cover Ponca City's median rent of $808.

Where is rent cheaper than Ponca City for a bus driver?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Lawton ($788/mo), Lawton ($728/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Oklahoma state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Ponca City, OK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.