Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Gardner, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.6% of gross income.

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

Gardner median rent
$1,565/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
26.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Gardner's median rent of $1,565 leaves roughly $202/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 46 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 Gardner, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Lowell, MA
$1,559/mo (26.5% of income)
Pittsfield, MA
$1,546/mo (26.2% of income)
Haverhill, MA
$1,543/mo (26.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gardner

View full rent data for Gardner, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Gardner, MA?

Median rent in Gardner is $1,565 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 26.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Gardner?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Gardner's current median rent is $1,565/mo, which leaves a $202/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 46 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,565.

Where is rent cheaper than Gardner for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Lowell ($1,559/mo), Pittsfield ($1,546/mo), Haverhill ($1,543/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 Gardner, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.