Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Burlington, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.

Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$983/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
21%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $983 leaves roughly $419/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 36.5 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Newton, IA
$982/mo (21% of income)
Marion, IA
$980/mo (21% of income)
Davenport, IA
$973/mo (20.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Burlington, IA?

Median rent in Burlington is $983 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $983/mo, which leaves a $419/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 36.5 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $983.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($982/mo), Marion ($980/mo), Davenport ($973/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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