Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Box Elder, SD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41% of gross income.

Box Elder rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Box Elder median rent
$1,557/mo
Bus Driver salary (South Dakota)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
41%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Box Elder's median rent of $1,557 exceeds that threshold by $417/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 71 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Box Elder, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Harrisburg, SD
$1,494/mo (39.3% of income)
Harrisburg, SD
$1,453/mo (38.2% of income)
Harrisburg, SD
$1,452/mo (38.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Box Elder

View full rent data for Box Elder, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Box Elder, SD?

Median rent in Box Elder is $1,557 a month. A typical bus driver in South Dakota earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 41% 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 Box Elder?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in South Dakota (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Box Elder's current median rent is $1,557/mo, which is $417/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in South Dakota works roughly 71 hours a month to cover Box Elder's median rent of $1,557.

Where is rent cheaper than Box Elder for a bus driver?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Harrisburg ($1,494/mo), Harrisburg ($1,453/mo), Harrisburg ($1,452/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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