Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.7% of gross income.

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

Madison Heights median rent
$1,351/mo
Bus Driver salary (Virginia)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
30.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351 exceeds that threshold by $30/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 53.2 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 Madison Heights, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Hopewell, VA
$1,348/mo (30.6% of income)
Staunton, VA
$1,348/mo (30.6% of income)
Roanoke, VA
$1,345/mo (30.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison Heights

View full rent data for Madison Heights, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Madison Heights, VA?

Median rent in Madison Heights is $1,351 a month. A typical bus driver in Virginia earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 30.7% 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 Madison Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Virginia (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Madison Heights's current median rent is $1,351/mo, which is $30/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Virginia works roughly 53.2 hours a month to cover Madison Heights's median rent of $1,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison Heights for a bus driver?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hopewell ($1,348/mo), Staunton ($1,348/mo), Roanoke ($1,345/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 Madison Heights, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.