Can A Chef Afford Rent in Gorham, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.2% of gross income.

Gorham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Gorham median rent
$2,150/mo
Chef salary (Maine)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
43.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Gorham's median rent of $2,150 exceeds that threshold by $658/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 75 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Gorham, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Saco, ME
$2,133/mo (42.9% of income)
Brunswick, ME
$2,125/mo (42.7% of income)
Brunswick, ME
$2,123/mo (42.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gorham

View full rent data for Gorham, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Gorham, ME?

Median rent in Gorham is $2,150 a month. A typical chef in Maine earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 43.2% 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 Gorham?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maine (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Gorham's current median rent is $2,150/mo, which is $658/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Maine works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Gorham's median rent of $2,150.

Where is rent cheaper than Gorham for a chef?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Saco ($2,133/mo), Brunswick ($2,125/mo), Brunswick ($2,123/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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