Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Sterling, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22% of gross income.

Sterling rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Sterling median rent
$1,172/mo
Carpenter salary (Colorado)
$63,987/yr
Rent as % of income
22%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,332, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,600/mo in rent. Sterling's median rent of $1,172 leaves roughly $428/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 38.1 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Sterling, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Greeley, CO
$1,165/mo (21.8% of income)
Grand Junction, CO
$1,164/mo (21.8% of income)
Alamosa, CO
$1,117/mo (20.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sterling

View full rent data for Sterling, CO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Sterling, CO?

Median rent in Sterling is $1,172 a month. A typical carpenter in Colorado earns about $63,987 a year, which makes that rent 22% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Sterling?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Colorado (~$63,987/yr) supports up to $1,600 a month in rent. Sterling's current median rent is $1,172/mo, which leaves a $428/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a carpenter in Colorado works roughly 38.1 hours a month to cover Sterling's median rent of $1,172.

Where is rent cheaper than Sterling for a carpenter?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Greeley ($1,165/mo), Grand Junction ($1,164/mo), Alamosa ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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