Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Bristol, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.3% of gross income.

Bristol rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Bristol median rent
$2,181/mo
Carpenter salary (Rhode Island)
$63,378/yr
Rent as % of income
41.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,282, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,584/mo in rent. Bristol's median rent of $2,181 exceeds that threshold by $597/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 71.6 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

East Greenwich, RI
$2,178/mo (41.2% of income)
Cumberland, RI
$2,174/mo (41.2% of income)
East Greenwich, RI
$2,173/mo (41.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bristol

View full rent data for Bristol, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Bristol, RI?

Median rent in Bristol is $2,181 a month. A typical carpenter in Rhode Island earns about $63,378 a year, which makes that rent 41.3% 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 Bristol?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Rhode Island (~$63,378/yr) supports up to $1,584 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $2,181/mo, which is $597/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Rhode Island works roughly 71.6 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $2,181.

Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a carpenter?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include East Greenwich ($2,178/mo), Cumberland ($2,174/mo), East Greenwich ($2,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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