Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Gary, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

Gary rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Gary median rent
$1,366/mo
Carpenter salary (Indiana)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Gary's median rent of $1,366 leaves roughly $36/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 50.7 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Gary, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Columbus, IN
$1,365/mo (29.2% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,364/mo (29.2% of income)
Columbus, IN
$1,364/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gary

View full rent data for Gary, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Gary, IN?

Median rent in Gary is $1,366 a month. A typical carpenter in Indiana earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Gary?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Indiana (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Gary's current median rent is $1,366/mo, which leaves a $36/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Indiana works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Gary's median rent of $1,366.

Where is rent cheaper than Gary for a carpenter?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Columbus ($1,365/mo), Hammond ($1,364/mo), Columbus ($1,364/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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