Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Northampton, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.

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

Northampton median rent
$1,812/mo
Carpenter salary (Pennsylvania)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
36%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Northampton's median rent of $1,812 exceeds that threshold by $304/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 62.5 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 Northampton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

East Stroudsburg, PA
$1,811/mo (36% of income)
Easton, PA
$1,811/mo (36% of income)
Coatesville, PA
$1,809/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Northampton

View full rent data for Northampton, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Northampton, PA?

Median rent in Northampton is $1,812 a month. A typical carpenter in Pennsylvania earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Northampton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Pennsylvania (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Northampton's current median rent is $1,812/mo, which is $304/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Pennsylvania works roughly 62.5 hours a month to cover Northampton's median rent of $1,812.

Where is rent cheaper than Northampton for a carpenter?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include East Stroudsburg ($1,811/mo), Easton ($1,811/mo), Coatesville ($1,809/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 Northampton, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.