Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in River Falls, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

River Falls rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

River Falls median rent
$1,771/mo
Elementary School Teacher salary (Wisconsin)
$63,726/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,311, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,593/mo in rent. River Falls's median rent of $1,771 exceeds that threshold by $178/mo, putting an elementary school teacher salary into the rent-burdened range here. An elementary school teacher works roughly 57.8 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than River Falls, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:

Oak Creek, WI
$1,769/mo (33.3% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,768/mo (33.3% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,768/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for River Falls

View full rent data for River Falls, WI →

Frequently asked questions

Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in River Falls, WI?

Median rent in River Falls is $1,771 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Wisconsin earns about $63,726 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% 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 River Falls?

Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Wisconsin (~$63,726/yr) supports up to $1,593 a month in rent. River Falls's current median rent is $1,771/mo, which is $178/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in River Falls?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Wisconsin works roughly 57.8 hours a month to cover River Falls's median rent of $1,771.

Where is rent cheaper than River Falls for an elementary school teacher?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oak Creek ($1,769/mo), Madison ($1,768/mo), Madison ($1,768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.

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