Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Saco, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.2% of gross income.

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

Saco median rent
$2,040/mo
Carpenter salary (Maine)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
43.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Saco's median rent of $2,040 exceeds that threshold by $623/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 74.9 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 Saco, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Biddeford, ME
$2,038/mo (43.2% of income)
Old Orchard Beach, ME
$2,032/mo (43% of income)
Old Orchard Beach, ME
$2,026/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saco

View full rent data for Saco, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Saco, ME?

Median rent in Saco is $2,040 a month. A typical carpenter in Maine earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 43.2% 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 Saco?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Maine (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Saco's current median rent is $2,040/mo, which is $623/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Maine works roughly 74.9 hours a month to cover Saco's median rent of $2,040.

Where is rent cheaper than Saco for a carpenter?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Biddeford ($2,038/mo), Old Orchard Beach ($2,032/mo), Old Orchard Beach ($2,026/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 Saco, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.