Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Port Orchard, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.1% of gross income.

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

Port Orchard median rent
$2,135/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
44.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Port Orchard's median rent of $2,135 exceeds that threshold by $684/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 76.5 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 Port Orchard, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Edgewood, WA
$2,132/mo (44.1% of income)
Arlington, WA
$2,130/mo (44% of income)
Sumner, WA
$2,130/mo (44% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Port Orchard

View full rent data for Port Orchard, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Port Orchard, WA?

Median rent in Port Orchard is $2,135 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 44.1% 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 Port Orchard?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Port Orchard's current median rent is $2,135/mo, which is $684/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 76.5 hours a month to cover Port Orchard's median rent of $2,135.

Where is rent cheaper than Port Orchard for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Edgewood ($2,132/mo), Arlington ($2,130/mo), Sumner ($2,130/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 Port Orchard, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.