Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Gardner, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.2% of gross income.

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

Gardner median rent
$1,603/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
27.2%
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 $1,603 leaves roughly $164/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 47.2 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:

Springfield, MA
$1,602/mo (27.2% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,600/mo (27.2% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,598/mo (27.1% 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 $1,603 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 27.2% 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 $1,603/mo, which leaves a $164/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 47.2 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,603.

Where is rent cheaper than Gardner for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,602/mo), Springfield ($1,600/mo), Springfield ($1,598/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.