Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lacey, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.7% of gross income.

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

Lacey median rent
$2,163/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
44.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Lacey's median rent of $2,163 exceeds that threshold by $712/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 77.5 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 Lacey, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Milton, WA
$2,162/mo (44.7% of income)
Battle Ground, WA
$2,162/mo (44.7% of income)
Camas, WA
$2,162/mo (44.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lacey

View full rent data for Lacey, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lacey, WA?

Median rent in Lacey is $2,163 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 44.7% 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 Lacey?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Lacey's current median rent is $2,163/mo, which is $712/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 77.5 hours a month to cover Lacey's median rent of $2,163.

Where is rent cheaper than Lacey for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Milton ($2,162/mo), Battle Ground ($2,162/mo), Camas ($2,162/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 Lacey, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.