Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.2% of gross income.

Van Buren rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Van Buren median rent
$1,019/mo
Carpenter salary (Arkansas)
$50,580/yr
Rent as % of income
24.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,215, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,265/mo in rent. Van Buren's median rent of $1,019 leaves roughly $246/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 41.9 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (24.1% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (24.1% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (24.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Van Buren

View full rent data for Van Buren, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Van Buren, AR?

Median rent in Van Buren is $1,019 a month. A typical carpenter in Arkansas earns about $50,580 a year, which makes that rent 24.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Van Buren?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Arkansas (~$50,580/yr) supports up to $1,265 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which leaves a $246/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a carpenter in Arkansas works roughly 41.9 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a carpenter?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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