Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Old Town, ME?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.2% of gross income.

Old Town rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Old Town median rent
$1,801/mo
Lawyer salary (Maine)
$164,117/yr
Rent as % of income
13.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,676, and the 30% rule supports up to $4,103/mo in rent. Old Town's median rent of $1,801 leaves roughly $2,302/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 22.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Old Town, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

South Portland, ME
$1,799/mo (13.2% of income)
Portland, ME
$1,780/mo (13% of income)
Rockland, ME
$1,775/mo (13% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Old Town

View full rent data for Old Town, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Old Town, ME?

Median rent in Old Town is $1,801 a month. A typical lawyer in Maine earns about $164,117 a year, which makes that rent 13.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Old Town?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Maine (~$164,117/yr) supports up to $4,103 a month in rent. Old Town's current median rent is $1,801/mo, which leaves a $2,302/mo buffer.

How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Old Town?

At an hourly equivalent of about $79 an hour, a lawyer in Maine works roughly 22.8 hours a month to cover Old Town's median rent of $1,801.

Where is rent cheaper than Old Town for a lawyer?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include South Portland ($1,799/mo), Portland ($1,780/mo), Rockland ($1,775/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.

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