Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Baraboo, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

Baraboo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Baraboo median rent
$1,241/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Baraboo's median rent of $1,241 exceeds that threshold by $10/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 52.4 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Baraboo, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,240/mo (30.2% of income)
Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,237/mo (30.2% of income)
Menomonie, WI
$1,236/mo (30.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Baraboo

View full rent data for Baraboo, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Baraboo, WI?

Median rent in Baraboo is $1,241 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Baraboo?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Baraboo's current median rent is $1,241/mo, which is $10/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Baraboo's median rent of $1,241.

Where is rent cheaper than Baraboo for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Chippewa Falls ($1,240/mo), Chippewa Falls ($1,237/mo), Menomonie ($1,236/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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