Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Darby, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.7% of gross income.

Darby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Darby median rent
$1,594/mo
Carpenter salary (Pennsylvania)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
31.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Darby's median rent of $1,594 exceeds that threshold by $86/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 55 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Darby, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Carlisle, PA
$1,593/mo (31.7% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (31.7% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (31.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Darby

View full rent data for Darby, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Darby, PA?

Median rent in Darby is $1,594 a month. A typical carpenter in Pennsylvania earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 31.7% 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 Darby?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Pennsylvania (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Darby's current median rent is $1,594/mo, which is $86/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Pennsylvania works roughly 55 hours a month to cover Darby's median rent of $1,594.

Where is rent cheaper than Darby for a carpenter?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Carlisle ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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