Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Chippewa Falls, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.

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

Chippewa Falls median rent
$1,274/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
31.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Chippewa Falls's median rent of $1,274 exceeds that threshold by $43/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 53.8 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 Chippewa Falls, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Wauwatosa, WI
$1,273/mo (31% of income)
Janesville, WI
$1,270/mo (31% of income)
Menomonie, WI
$1,268/mo (30.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chippewa Falls

View full rent data for Chippewa Falls, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Chippewa Falls, WI?

Median rent in Chippewa Falls is $1,274 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% 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 Chippewa Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Chippewa Falls's current median rent is $1,274/mo, which is $43/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 53.8 hours a month to cover Chippewa Falls's median rent of $1,274.

Where is rent cheaper than Chippewa Falls for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Wauwatosa ($1,273/mo), Janesville ($1,270/mo), Menomonie ($1,268/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 Chippewa Falls, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.