Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Rockland, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.7% of gross income.

Rockland rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Rockland median rent
$1,688/mo
Carpenter salary (Maine)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
35.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Rockland's median rent of $1,688 exceeds that threshold by $271/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 62 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 Rockland, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (35.6% of income)
Sanford, ME
$1,681/mo (35.6% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,673/mo (35.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rockland

View full rent data for Rockland, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Rockland, ME?

Median rent in Rockland is $1,688 a month. A typical carpenter in Maine earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 35.7% 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 Rockland?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Maine (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Rockland's current median rent is $1,688/mo, which is $271/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Maine works roughly 62 hours a month to cover Rockland's median rent of $1,688.

Where is rent cheaper than Rockland for a carpenter?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Sanford ($1,681/mo), Sanford ($1,681/mo), Auburn ($1,673/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 Rockland, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.