Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.9% of gross income.

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

Cape Elizabeth median rent
$2,908/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Maine)
$81,384/yr
Rent as % of income
42.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,782, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,035/mo in rent. Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908 exceeds that threshold by $873/mo, putting a dental hygienist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental hygienist works roughly 74.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maine cities have lower median rent than Cape Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Scarborough, ME
$2,870/mo (42.3% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,844/mo (41.9% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,843/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cape Elizabeth

View full rent data for Cape Elizabeth, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Median rent in Cape Elizabeth is $2,908 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Maine earns about $81,384 a year, which makes that rent 42.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Cape Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Maine (~$81,384/yr) supports up to $2,035 a month in rent. Cape Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,908/mo, which is $873/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Cape Elizabeth?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Maine works roughly 74.3 hours a month to cover Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908.

Where is rent cheaper than Cape Elizabeth for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Scarborough ($2,870/mo), Scarborough ($2,844/mo), Scarborough ($2,843/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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