Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Grafton, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.4% of gross income.

Grafton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Grafton median rent
$1,755/mo
Carpenter salary (Wisconsin)
$57,893/yr
Rent as % of income
36.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,824, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,447/mo in rent. Grafton's median rent of $1,755 exceeds that threshold by $308/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 63.1 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Grafton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Germantown, WI
$1,753/mo (36.3% of income)
Middleton, WI
$1,751/mo (36.3% of income)
De Forest, WI
$1,750/mo (36.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grafton

View full rent data for Grafton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Grafton, WI?

Median rent in Grafton is $1,755 a month. A typical carpenter in Wisconsin earns about $57,893 a year, which makes that rent 36.4% 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 Grafton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Wisconsin (~$57,893/yr) supports up to $1,447 a month in rent. Grafton's current median rent is $1,755/mo, which is $308/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in Wisconsin works roughly 63.1 hours a month to cover Grafton's median rent of $1,755.

Where is rent cheaper than Grafton for a carpenter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Germantown ($1,753/mo), Middleton ($1,751/mo), De Forest ($1,750/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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