Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Saco, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.1% of gross income.

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

Saco median rent
$2,226/mo
Carpenter salary (Maine)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
47.1%
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 $2,226 exceeds that threshold by $809/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 81.7 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:

Yarmouth, ME
$2,224/mo (47.1% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,221/mo (47% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,211/mo (46.8% 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 $2,226 a month. A typical carpenter in Maine earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 47.1% 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 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 $2,226/mo, which is $809/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 81.7 hours a month to cover Saco's median rent of $2,226.

Where is rent cheaper than Saco for a carpenter?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Yarmouth ($2,224/mo), Portland ($2,221/mo), Portland ($2,211/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.