Can A Chef Afford Rent in Littleton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.5% of gross income.

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

Littleton median rent
$2,819/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
45.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Littleton's median rent of $2,819 exceeds that threshold by $959/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 78.8 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 Littleton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Westford, MA
$2,818/mo (45.4% of income)
Amherst, MA
$2,818/mo (45.4% of income)
Everett, MA
$2,815/mo (45.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Littleton

View full rent data for Littleton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Littleton, MA?

Median rent in Littleton is $2,819 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 45.5% 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 Littleton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Littleton's current median rent is $2,819/mo, which is $959/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 78.8 hours a month to cover Littleton's median rent of $2,819.

Where is rent cheaper than Littleton for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westford ($2,818/mo), Amherst ($2,818/mo), Everett ($2,815/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 Littleton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.