Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Martinsville, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20% of gross income.

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

Martinsville median rent
$883/mo
Bus Driver salary (Virginia)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
20%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Martinsville's median rent of $883 leaves roughly $438/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 34.7 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 Martinsville, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Roanoke, VA
$878/mo (19.9% of income)
Lynchburg, VA
$877/mo (19.9% of income)
Petersburg, VA
$844/mo (19.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Martinsville

View full rent data for Martinsville, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Martinsville, VA?

Median rent in Martinsville is $883 a month. A typical bus driver in Virginia earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 20% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Martinsville?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Virginia (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Martinsville's current median rent is $883/mo, which leaves a $438/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Virginia works roughly 34.7 hours a month to cover Martinsville's median rent of $883.

Where is rent cheaper than Martinsville for a bus driver?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Roanoke ($878/mo), Lynchburg ($877/mo), Petersburg ($844/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 Martinsville, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.