Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Racine, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.

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

Racine median rent
$1,215/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
29.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Racine's median rent of $1,215 leaves roughly $16/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.3 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 Racine, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Weston, WI
$1,214/mo (29.6% of income)
Oshkosh, WI
$1,208/mo (29.4% of income)
Oshkosh, WI
$1,205/mo (29.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Racine

View full rent data for Racine, WI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Racine, WI?

Median rent in Racine is $1,215 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Racine?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Racine's current median rent is $1,215/mo, which leaves a $16/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Racine's median rent of $1,215.

Where is rent cheaper than Racine for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Weston ($1,214/mo), Oshkosh ($1,208/mo), Oshkosh ($1,205/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 Racine, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.