Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Athens, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.3% of gross income.

Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Athens median rent
$1,168/mo
Bus Driver salary (Texas)
$51,302/yr
Rent as % of income
27.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,275, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,283/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,168 leaves roughly $115/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 47.4 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

North Richland Hills, TX
$1,167/mo (27.3% of income)
Midland, TX
$1,165/mo (27.3% of income)
Freeport, TX
$1,164/mo (27.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Athens, TX?

Median rent in Athens is $1,168 a month. A typical bus driver in Texas earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 27.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Texas (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,168/mo, which leaves a $115/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Texas works roughly 47.4 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,168.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a bus driver?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include North Richland Hills ($1,167/mo), Midland ($1,165/mo), Freeport ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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