Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in La Grande, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

La Grande rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

La Grande median rent
$1,292/mo
Bus Driver salary (Oregon)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. La Grande's median rent of $1,292 leaves roughly $55/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 49.9 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than La Grande, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Pendleton, OR
$1,282/mo (28.5% of income)
Pendleton, OR
$1,281/mo (28.5% of income)
Gresham, OR
$1,276/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Grande

View full rent data for La Grande, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in La Grande, OR?

Median rent in La Grande is $1,292 a month. A typical bus driver in Oregon earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in La Grande?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oregon (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. La Grande's current median rent is $1,292/mo, which leaves a $55/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Oregon works roughly 49.9 hours a month to cover La Grande's median rent of $1,292.

Where is rent cheaper than La Grande for a bus driver?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Pendleton ($1,282/mo), Pendleton ($1,281/mo), Gresham ($1,276/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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