Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in New Castle, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.8% of gross income.

New Castle rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

New Castle median rent
$933/mo
Bus Driver salary (Pennsylvania)
$51,302/yr
Rent as % of income
21.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,275, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,283/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $933 leaves roughly $350/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 37.8 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than New Castle, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Grove City, PA
$931/mo (21.8% of income)
Uniontown, PA
$931/mo (21.8% of income)
Latrobe, PA
$928/mo (21.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in New Castle, PA?

Median rent in New Castle is $933 a month. A typical bus driver in Pennsylvania earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 21.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in New Castle?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Pennsylvania (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $933/mo, which leaves a $350/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Pennsylvania works roughly 37.8 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $933.

Where is rent cheaper than New Castle for a bus driver?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Grove City ($931/mo), Uniontown ($931/mo), Latrobe ($928/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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