Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Wilmington, MA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.9% of gross income.
Wilmington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wilmington
View full rent data for Wilmington, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Wilmington, MA?
Median rent in Wilmington is $3,218 a month. A typical lawyer in Massachusetts earns about $204,705 a year, which makes that rent 18.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Wilmington?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Massachusetts (~$204,705/yr) supports up to $5,118 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $3,218/mo, which leaves a $1,900/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Wilmington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $98 an hour, a lawyer in Massachusetts works roughly 32.7 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $3,218.
Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for a lawyer?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westwood ($3,210/mo), Winchester ($3,209/mo), Medford ($3,208/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.