Can A Chef Afford Rent in Millbury, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.4% of gross income.

Millbury rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Millbury median rent
$2,317/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
37.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Millbury's median rent of $2,317 exceeds that threshold by $457/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 64.8 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 Millbury, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Lowell, MA
$2,316/mo (37.3% of income)
Clinton, MA
$2,313/mo (37.3% of income)
Northampton, MA
$2,312/mo (37.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Millbury

View full rent data for Millbury, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Millbury, MA?

Median rent in Millbury is $2,317 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 37.4% 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 Millbury?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Millbury's current median rent is $2,317/mo, which is $457/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 64.8 hours a month to cover Millbury's median rent of $2,317.

Where is rent cheaper than Millbury for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Lowell ($2,316/mo), Clinton ($2,313/mo), Northampton ($2,312/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 Millbury, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.