Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Hartford, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.

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

Hartford median rent
$1,050/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
25.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Hartford's median rent of $1,050 leaves roughly $181/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 44.4 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 Hartford, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Eau Claire, WI
$1,049/mo (25.6% of income)
Beloit, WI
$1,046/mo (25.5% of income)
Green Bay, WI
$1,046/mo (25.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hartford

View full rent data for Hartford, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Hartford, WI?

Median rent in Hartford is $1,050 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Hartford?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Hartford's current median rent is $1,050/mo, which leaves a $181/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 44.4 hours a month to cover Hartford's median rent of $1,050.

Where is rent cheaper than Hartford for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Eau Claire ($1,049/mo), Beloit ($1,046/mo), Green Bay ($1,046/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 Hartford, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.