Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Pendleton, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Pendleton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Pendleton median rent
$1,343/mo
Bus Driver salary (Oregon)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Pendleton's median rent of $1,343 leaves roughly $4/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.8 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 Pendleton, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Eugene, OR
$1,342/mo (29.9% of income)
Coos Bay, OR
$1,338/mo (29.8% of income)
Astoria, OR
$1,337/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pendleton

View full rent data for Pendleton, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Pendleton, OR?

Median rent in Pendleton is $1,343 a month. A typical bus driver in Oregon earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Pendleton?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oregon (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Pendleton's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which leaves a $4/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Oregon works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Pendleton's median rent of $1,343.

Where is rent cheaper than Pendleton for a bus driver?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Eugene ($1,342/mo), Coos Bay ($1,338/mo), Astoria ($1,337/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 Pendleton, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.