Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Gainesville, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.9% of gross income.

Gainesville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Gainesville median rent
$2,947/mo
Bus Driver salary (Virginia)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
66.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Gainesville's median rent of $2,947 exceeds that threshold by $1,626/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 116 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 Gainesville, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Burke, VA
$2,946/mo (66.9% of income)
Burke, VA
$2,934/mo (66.6% of income)
Burke, VA
$2,927/mo (66.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gainesville

View full rent data for Gainesville, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Gainesville, VA?

Median rent in Gainesville is $2,947 a month. A typical bus driver in Virginia earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 66.9% 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 Gainesville?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Virginia (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Gainesville's current median rent is $2,947/mo, which is $1,626/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Virginia works roughly 116 hours a month to cover Gainesville's median rent of $2,947.

Where is rent cheaper than Gainesville for a bus driver?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Burke ($2,946/mo), Burke ($2,934/mo), Burke ($2,927/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 Gainesville, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.