Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Blacksburg, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.

Blacksburg rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Blacksburg median rent
$1,746/mo
Bus Driver salary (Virginia)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
39.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Blacksburg's median rent of $1,746 exceeds that threshold by $425/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 68.7 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Blacksburg, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Spotsylvania, VA
$1,744/mo (39.6% of income)
Chester, VA
$1,743/mo (39.6% of income)
Forest, VA
$1,742/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Blacksburg

View full rent data for Blacksburg, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Blacksburg, VA?

Median rent in Blacksburg is $1,746 a month. A typical bus driver in Virginia earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% 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 Blacksburg?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Virginia (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Blacksburg's current median rent is $1,746/mo, which is $425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Virginia works roughly 68.7 hours a month to cover Blacksburg's median rent of $1,746.

Where is rent cheaper than Blacksburg for a bus driver?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Spotsylvania ($1,744/mo), Chester ($1,743/mo), Forest ($1,742/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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