Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Fitchburg, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.6% of gross income.

Fitchburg rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Fitchburg median rent
$1,859/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
31.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Fitchburg's median rent of $1,859 exceeds that threshold by $92/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 54.7 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Fitchburg, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Weymouth, MA
$1,857/mo (31.5% of income)
Beverly, MA
$1,855/mo (31.5% of income)
Westfield, MA
$1,851/mo (31.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fitchburg

View full rent data for Fitchburg, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Fitchburg, MA?

Median rent in Fitchburg is $1,859 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 31.6% 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 Fitchburg?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Fitchburg's current median rent is $1,859/mo, which is $92/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 54.7 hours a month to cover Fitchburg's median rent of $1,859.

Where is rent cheaper than Fitchburg for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Weymouth ($1,857/mo), Beverly ($1,855/mo), Westfield ($1,851/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 Fitchburg, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.