Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 69.1% of gross income.
Portsmouth rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).
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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth
View full rent data for Portsmouth, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Portsmouth, RI?
Median rent in Portsmouth is $3,104 a month. A typical bus driver in Rhode Island earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 69.1% 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 Portsmouth?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Rhode Island (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $3,104/mo, which is $1,757/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Portsmouth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Rhode Island works roughly 119.8 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $3,104.
Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a bus driver?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Newport ($3,100/mo), Newport ($3,099/mo), Middletown ($3,089/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.