Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Middleton, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.2% of gross income.

Middleton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Middleton median rent
$1,601/mo
Carpenter salary (Wisconsin)
$57,893/yr
Rent as % of income
33.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,824, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,447/mo in rent. Middleton's median rent of $1,601 exceeds that threshold by $154/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 57.5 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 Middleton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

River Falls, WI
$1,600/mo (33.2% of income)
Wauwatosa, WI
$1,600/mo (33.2% of income)
Germantown, WI
$1,600/mo (33.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Middleton

View full rent data for Middleton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Middleton, WI?

Median rent in Middleton is $1,601 a month. A typical carpenter in Wisconsin earns about $57,893 a year, which makes that rent 33.2% 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 Middleton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Wisconsin (~$57,893/yr) supports up to $1,447 a month in rent. Middleton's current median rent is $1,601/mo, which is $154/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in Wisconsin works roughly 57.5 hours a month to cover Middleton's median rent of $1,601.

Where is rent cheaper than Middleton for a carpenter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include River Falls ($1,600/mo), Wauwatosa ($1,600/mo), Germantown ($1,600/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 Middleton, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.