Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lexington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.6% of gross income.

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

Lexington median rent
$4,274/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
72.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $4,274 exceeds that threshold by $2,507/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 125.8 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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Brookline, MA
$4,137/mo (70.2% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,107/mo (69.7% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,072/mo (69.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lexington, MA?

Median rent in Lexington is $4,274 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 72.6% 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 Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $4,274/mo, which is $2,507/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 125.8 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $4,274.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brookline ($4,137/mo), Brookline ($4,107/mo), Brookline ($4,072/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 Lexington, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.