Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Harlingen, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Harlingen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Harlingen median rent
$1,135/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Harlingen's median rent of $1,135 leaves roughly $373/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 39.1 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Harlingen, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Orange, TX
$1,133/mo (22.5% of income)
Pasadena, TX
$1,133/mo (22.5% of income)
Longview, TX
$1,132/mo (22.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Harlingen

View full rent data for Harlingen, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Harlingen, TX?

Median rent in Harlingen is $1,135 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Harlingen?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Harlingen's current median rent is $1,135/mo, which leaves a $373/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 39.1 hours a month to cover Harlingen's median rent of $1,135.

Where is rent cheaper than Harlingen for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Orange ($1,133/mo), Pasadena ($1,133/mo), Longview ($1,132/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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