Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Covington, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.7% of gross income.

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

Covington median rent
$1,100/mo
Bus Driver salary (Tennessee)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
27.7%
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 $1,100 leaves roughly $92/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 48 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
$1,099/mo (27.7% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,089/mo (27.4% of income)
Knoxville, TN
$1,086/mo (27.3% 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 $1,100 a month. A typical bus driver in Tennessee earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 27.7% 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 $1,100/mo, which leaves a $92/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 48 hours a month to cover Covington's median rent of $1,100.

Where is rent cheaper than Covington for a bus driver?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,099/mo), Chattanooga ($1,089/mo), Knoxville ($1,086/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.