Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Scranton, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.2% of gross income.

Scranton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Scranton median rent
$1,315/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Pennsylvania)
$86,635/yr
Rent as % of income
18.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,220, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,166/mo in rent. Scranton's median rent of $1,315 leaves roughly $851/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 31.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Scranton, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Allison Park, PA
$1,314/mo (18.2% of income)
Bethel Park, PA
$1,314/mo (18.2% of income)
Ephrata, PA
$1,314/mo (18.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scranton

View full rent data for Scranton, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Scranton, PA?

Median rent in Scranton is $1,315 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Pennsylvania earns about $86,635 a year, which makes that rent 18.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Scranton?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Pennsylvania (~$86,635/yr) supports up to $2,166 a month in rent. Scranton's current median rent is $1,315/mo, which leaves a $851/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a dental hygienist in Pennsylvania works roughly 31.6 hours a month to cover Scranton's median rent of $1,315.

Where is rent cheaper than Scranton for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Allison Park ($1,314/mo), Bethel Park ($1,314/mo), Ephrata ($1,314/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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