Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Tupelo, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

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

Tupelo median rent
$1,381/mo
Carpenter salary (Mississippi)
$49,361/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,113, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,234/mo in rent. Tupelo's median rent of $1,381 exceeds that threshold by $147/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 58.2 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 Tupelo, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Gulfport, MS
$1,380/mo (33.5% of income)
Columbus, MS
$1,379/mo (33.5% of income)
Columbus, MS
$1,379/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tupelo

View full rent data for Tupelo, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Tupelo, MS?

Median rent in Tupelo is $1,381 a month. A typical carpenter in Mississippi earns about $49,361 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% 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 Tupelo?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Mississippi (~$49,361/yr) supports up to $1,234 a month in rent. Tupelo's current median rent is $1,381/mo, which is $147/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a carpenter in Mississippi works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Tupelo's median rent of $1,381.

Where is rent cheaper than Tupelo for a carpenter?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Gulfport ($1,380/mo), Columbus ($1,379/mo), Columbus ($1,379/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 Tupelo, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.