Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 99.8% of gross income.

Great Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Great Falls median rent
$5,167/mo
Carpenter salary (Virginia)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
99.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $5,167 exceeds that threshold by $3,613/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 172.9 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Fort Hunt, VA
$4,549/mo (87.8% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,375/mo (84.5% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,100/mo (79.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Great Falls, VA?

Median rent in Great Falls is $5,167 a month. A typical carpenter in Virginia earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 99.8% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Virginia (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,167/mo, which is $3,613/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Virginia works roughly 172.9 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,167.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a carpenter?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,100/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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