Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Fairhaven, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Fairhaven rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Fairhaven median rent
$1,800/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Fairhaven's median rent of $1,800 exceeds that threshold by $33/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53 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 Fairhaven, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Holyoke, MA
$1,799/mo (30.5% of income)
Fitchburg, MA
$1,799/mo (30.5% of income)
Leominster, MA
$1,798/mo (30.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairhaven

View full rent data for Fairhaven, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Fairhaven, MA?

Median rent in Fairhaven is $1,800 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Fairhaven?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Fairhaven's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $33/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 53 hours a month to cover Fairhaven's median rent of $1,800.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairhaven for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Holyoke ($1,799/mo), Fitchburg ($1,799/mo), Leominster ($1,798/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 Fairhaven, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.