Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Apple Valley, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

Apple Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Apple Valley median rent
$1,955/mo
Elementary School Teacher salary (Minnesota)
$69,763/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,814, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,744/mo in rent. Apple Valley's median rent of $1,955 exceeds that threshold by $211/mo, putting an elementary school teacher salary into the rent-burdened range here. An elementary school teacher works roughly 58.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an elementary school teacher salary

Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Apple Valley, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:

Saint Michael, MN
$1,954/mo (33.6% of income)
Rosemount, MN
$1,954/mo (33.6% of income)
Blaine, MN
$1,952/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Apple Valley

View full rent data for Apple Valley, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Apple Valley, MN?

Median rent in Apple Valley is $1,955 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Minnesota earns about $69,763 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Apple Valley?

Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Minnesota (~$69,763/yr) supports up to $1,744 a month in rent. Apple Valley's current median rent is $1,955/mo, which is $211/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Apple Valley?

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Minnesota works roughly 58.3 hours a month to cover Apple Valley's median rent of $1,955.

Where is rent cheaper than Apple Valley for an elementary school teacher?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Saint Michael ($1,954/mo), Rosemount ($1,954/mo), Blaine ($1,952/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.

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