Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Oxford, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.2% of gross income.

Oxford rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Oxford median rent
$2,108/mo
Carpenter salary (Mississippi)
$49,361/yr
Rent as % of income
51.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,113, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,234/mo in rent. Oxford's median rent of $2,108 exceeds that threshold by $874/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 88.8 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Oxford, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Hernando, MS
$2,080/mo (50.6% of income)
Olive Branch, MS
$1,993/mo (48.5% of income)
Olive Branch, MS
$1,986/mo (48.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oxford

View full rent data for Oxford, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Oxford, MS?

Median rent in Oxford is $2,108 a month. A typical carpenter in Mississippi earns about $49,361 a year, which makes that rent 51.2% 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 Oxford?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Mississippi (~$49,361/yr) supports up to $1,234 a month in rent. Oxford's current median rent is $2,108/mo, which is $874/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a carpenter in Mississippi works roughly 88.8 hours a month to cover Oxford's median rent of $2,108.

Where is rent cheaper than Oxford for a carpenter?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Hernando ($2,080/mo), Olive Branch ($1,993/mo), Olive Branch ($1,986/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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