Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Acton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.1% of gross income.

Acton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Acton median rent
$2,599/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
44.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Acton's median rent of $2,599 exceeds that threshold by $832/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 76.5 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Acton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Bridgewater, MA
$2,598/mo (44.1% of income)
Wakefield, MA
$2,598/mo (44.1% of income)
Bridgewater, MA
$2,597/mo (44.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Acton

View full rent data for Acton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Acton, MA?

Median rent in Acton is $2,599 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 44.1% 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 Acton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Acton's current median rent is $2,599/mo, which is $832/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 76.5 hours a month to cover Acton's median rent of $2,599.

Where is rent cheaper than Acton for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bridgewater ($2,598/mo), Wakefield ($2,598/mo), Bridgewater ($2,597/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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