Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Johnston, RI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

Johnston rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Johnston median rent
$1,910/mo
Carpenter salary (Rhode Island)
$63,378/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,282, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,584/mo in rent. Johnston's median rent of $1,910 exceeds that threshold by $326/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 62.7 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 Johnston, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

East Providence, RI
$1,908/mo (36.1% of income)
East Providence, RI
$1,905/mo (36.1% of income)
East Providence, RI
$1,905/mo (36.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnston

View full rent data for Johnston, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Johnston, RI?

Median rent in Johnston is $1,910 a month. A typical carpenter in Rhode Island earns about $63,378 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Johnston?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Rhode Island (~$63,378/yr) supports up to $1,584 a month in rent. Johnston's current median rent is $1,910/mo, which is $326/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Rhode Island works roughly 62.7 hours a month to cover Johnston's median rent of $1,910.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnston for a carpenter?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include East Providence ($1,908/mo), East Providence ($1,905/mo), East Providence ($1,905/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 Johnston, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.