Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Kilgore, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.7% of gross income.

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

Kilgore median rent
$1,141/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
22.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Kilgore's median rent of $1,141 leaves roughly $367/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 39.3 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 Kilgore, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Longview, TX
$1,140/mo (22.7% of income)
Harlingen, TX
$1,140/mo (22.7% of income)
Harlingen, TX
$1,140/mo (22.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kilgore

View full rent data for Kilgore, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Kilgore, TX?

Median rent in Kilgore is $1,141 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 22.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Kilgore?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Kilgore's current median rent is $1,141/mo, which leaves a $367/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 39.3 hours a month to cover Kilgore's median rent of $1,141.

Where is rent cheaper than Kilgore for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Longview ($1,140/mo), Harlingen ($1,140/mo), Harlingen ($1,140/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 Kilgore, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.