Can A Chef Afford Rent in Braintree, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.2% of gross income.

Braintree rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Braintree median rent
$2,987/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
48.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Braintree's median rent of $2,987 exceeds that threshold by $1,127/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 83.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Braintree, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Saugus, MA
$2,986/mo (48.2% of income)
Stoneham, MA
$2,983/mo (48.1% of income)
Bedford, MA
$2,982/mo (48.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Braintree

View full rent data for Braintree, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Braintree, MA?

Median rent in Braintree is $2,987 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 48.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Braintree?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Braintree's current median rent is $2,987/mo, which is $1,127/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Braintree?

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 83.5 hours a month to cover Braintree's median rent of $2,987.

Where is rent cheaper than Braintree for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Saugus ($2,986/mo), Stoneham ($2,983/mo), Bedford ($2,982/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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