Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Newton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.6% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$3,685/mo
Carpenter salary (Massachusetts)
$70,690/yr
Rent as % of income
62.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,891, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,767/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $3,685 exceeds that threshold by $1,918/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 108.4 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,661/mo (62.1% of income)
Boston, MA
$3,652/mo (62% of income)
Hingham, MA
$3,640/mo (61.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Newton, MA?

Median rent in Newton is $3,685 a month. A typical carpenter in Massachusetts earns about $70,690 a year, which makes that rent 62.6% 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 Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Massachusetts (~$70,690/yr) supports up to $1,767 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $3,685/mo, which is $1,918/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a carpenter in Massachusetts works roughly 108.4 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $3,685.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a carpenter?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,661/mo), Boston ($3,652/mo), Hingham ($3,640/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 Newton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.