Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.7% of gross income.

Lewiston rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Lewiston median rent
$1,661/mo
Carpenter salary (Idaho)
$54,237/yr
Rent as % of income
36.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,661 exceeds that threshold by $305/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 63.7 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Post Falls, ID
$1,660/mo (36.7% of income)
Caldwell, ID
$1,659/mo (36.7% of income)
Caldwell, ID
$1,658/mo (36.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ID →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lewiston, ID?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,661 a month. A typical carpenter in Idaho earns about $54,237 a year, which makes that rent 36.7% 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 Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Idaho (~$54,237/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,661/mo, which is $305/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Idaho works roughly 63.7 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,661.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a carpenter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Post Falls ($1,660/mo), Caldwell ($1,659/mo), Caldwell ($1,658/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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