Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Blaine, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.2% of gross income.

Blaine rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Blaine median rent
$2,429/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
50.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Blaine's median rent of $2,429 exceeds that threshold by $978/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 87.1 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Blaine, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Newcastle, WA
$2,428/mo (50.2% of income)
Woodinville, WA
$2,427/mo (50.2% of income)
Poulsbo, WA
$2,424/mo (50.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Blaine

View full rent data for Blaine, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Blaine, WA?

Median rent in Blaine is $2,429 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 50.2% 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 Blaine?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Blaine's current median rent is $2,429/mo, which is $978/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 87.1 hours a month to cover Blaine's median rent of $2,429.

Where is rent cheaper than Blaine for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Newcastle ($2,428/mo), Woodinville ($2,427/mo), Poulsbo ($2,424/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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