Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Dundalk, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

Dundalk rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Dundalk median rent
$1,581/mo
Carpenter salary (Maryland)
$65,815/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,485, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,645/mo in rent. Dundalk's median rent of $1,581 leaves roughly $64/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 50 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Dundalk, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Edgewood, MD
$1,577/mo (28.8% of income)
Edgewood, MD
$1,577/mo (28.8% of income)
Windsor Mill, MD
$1,577/mo (28.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dundalk

View full rent data for Dundalk, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Dundalk, MD?

Median rent in Dundalk is $1,581 a month. A typical carpenter in Maryland earns about $65,815 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Dundalk?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Maryland (~$65,815/yr) supports up to $1,645 a month in rent. Dundalk's current median rent is $1,581/mo, which leaves a $64/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a carpenter in Maryland works roughly 50 hours a month to cover Dundalk's median rent of $1,581.

Where is rent cheaper than Dundalk for a carpenter?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Edgewood ($1,577/mo), Edgewood ($1,577/mo), Windsor Mill ($1,577/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Dundalk, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.