Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Old Town, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.1% of gross income.

Old Town rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Old Town median rent
$1,801/mo
Carpenter salary (Maine)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
38.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Old Town's median rent of $1,801 exceeds that threshold by $384/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 66.1 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Old Town, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

South Portland, ME
$1,799/mo (38.1% of income)
Portland, ME
$1,780/mo (37.7% of income)
Rockland, ME
$1,775/mo (37.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Old Town

View full rent data for Old Town, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Old Town, ME?

Median rent in Old Town is $1,801 a month. A typical carpenter in Maine earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 38.1% 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 Old Town?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Maine (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Old Town's current median rent is $1,801/mo, which is $384/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Maine works roughly 66.1 hours a month to cover Old Town's median rent of $1,801.

Where is rent cheaper than Old Town for a carpenter?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include South Portland ($1,799/mo), Portland ($1,780/mo), Rockland ($1,775/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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