Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Boxboro, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.9% of gross income.

Boxboro rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Boxboro median rent
$1,938/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
32.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Boxboro's median rent of $1,938 exceeds that threshold by $171/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 57 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 Boxboro, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

New Bedford, MA
$1,935/mo (32.8% of income)
Westfield, MA
$1,934/mo (32.8% of income)
Westfield, MA
$1,929/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Boxboro

View full rent data for Boxboro, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Boxboro, MA?

Median rent in Boxboro is $1,938 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 32.9% 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 Boxboro?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Boxboro's current median rent is $1,938/mo, which is $171/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 57 hours a month to cover Boxboro's median rent of $1,938.

Where is rent cheaper than Boxboro for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include New Bedford ($1,935/mo), Westfield ($1,934/mo), Westfield ($1,929/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 Boxboro, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.