Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in East Ridge, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

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

East Ridge median rent
$1,322/mo
Bus Driver salary (Tennessee)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. East Ridge's median rent of $1,322 exceeds that threshold by $130/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 57.7 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 East Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Murfreesboro, TN
$1,320/mo (33.2% of income)
Kingsport, TN
$1,319/mo (33.2% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,317/mo (33.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Ridge

View full rent data for East Ridge, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in East Ridge, TN?

Median rent in East Ridge is $1,322 a month. A typical bus driver in Tennessee earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% 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 East Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Tennessee (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. East Ridge's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which is $130/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Tennessee works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover East Ridge's median rent of $1,322.

Where is rent cheaper than East Ridge for a bus driver?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Murfreesboro ($1,320/mo), Kingsport ($1,319/mo), Johnson City ($1,317/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 East Ridge, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.