Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Covington, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.

Covington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Covington median rent
$1,063/mo
Bus Driver salary (Tennessee)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
26.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Covington's median rent of $1,063 leaves roughly $129/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 46.4 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Covington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Athens, TN
$1,062/mo (26.7% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,061/mo (26.7% of income)
Martin, TN
$1,050/mo (26.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Covington

View full rent data for Covington, TN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Covington, TN?

Median rent in Covington is $1,063 a month. A typical bus driver in Tennessee earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Covington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Tennessee (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Covington's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which leaves a $129/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Tennessee works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Covington's median rent of $1,063.

Where is rent cheaper than Covington for a bus driver?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,062/mo), Chattanooga ($1,061/mo), Martin ($1,050/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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