Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.8% of gross income.
Scarborough rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Scarborough
View full rent data for Scarborough, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Scarborough, ME?
Median rent in Scarborough is $2,714 a month. A typical lawyer in Maine earns about $164,117 a year, which makes that rent 19.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Scarborough?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Maine (~$164,117/yr) supports up to $4,103 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,714/mo, which leaves a $1,389/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Scarborough?
At an hourly equivalent of about $79 an hour, a lawyer in Maine works roughly 34.4 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,714.
Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for a lawyer?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,700/mo), Gorham ($2,650/mo), Freeport ($2,648/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.