Can A Chef Afford Rent in Gardner, MA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.
Gardner rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Gardner, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Gardner
View full rent data for Gardner, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Gardner, MA?
Median rent in Gardner is $1,603 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Gardner?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Gardner's current median rent is $1,603/mo, which leaves a $257/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Gardner?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 44.8 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,603.
Where is rent cheaper than Gardner for a chef?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,602/mo), Springfield ($1,600/mo), Springfield ($1,598/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.