Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Chelsea, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.3% of gross income.

Chelsea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Chelsea median rent
$2,151/mo
Carpenter salary (Alabama)
$52,408/yr
Rent as % of income
49.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,310/mo in rent. Chelsea's median rent of $2,151 exceeds that threshold by $841/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 85.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Pike Road, AL
$2,137/mo (48.9% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,136/mo (48.9% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,128/mo (48.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chelsea

View full rent data for Chelsea, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Chelsea, AL?

Median rent in Chelsea is $2,151 a month. A typical carpenter in Alabama earns about $52,408 a year, which makes that rent 49.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Chelsea?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Alabama (~$52,408/yr) supports up to $1,310 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $841/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Chelsea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in Alabama works roughly 85.4 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,151.

Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a carpenter?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Pike Road ($2,137/mo), Fairhope ($2,136/mo), Fairhope ($2,128/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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