Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Derby, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.6% of gross income.

Derby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Derby median rent
$1,582/mo
Carpenter salary (Kansas)
$54,846/yr
Rent as % of income
34.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,571, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,371/mo in rent. Derby's median rent of $1,582 exceeds that threshold by $211/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 60 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Derby, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Gardner, KS
$1,580/mo (34.6% of income)
Goddard, KS
$1,578/mo (34.5% of income)
Gardner, KS
$1,575/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Derby

View full rent data for Derby, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Derby, KS?

Median rent in Derby is $1,582 a month. A typical carpenter in Kansas earns about $54,846 a year, which makes that rent 34.6% 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 Derby?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Kansas (~$54,846/yr) supports up to $1,371 a month in rent. Derby's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $211/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Kansas works roughly 60 hours a month to cover Derby's median rent of $1,582.

Where is rent cheaper than Derby for a carpenter?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Gardner ($1,580/mo), Goddard ($1,578/mo), Gardner ($1,575/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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