Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Jamestown, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 7.8% of gross income.

Jamestown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Jamestown median rent
$1,117/mo
Lawyer salary (North Dakota)
$171,176/yr
Rent as % of income
7.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $14,265, and the 30% rule supports up to $4,279/mo in rent. Jamestown's median rent of $1,117 leaves roughly $3,162/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 13.6 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Jamestown, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

Grand Forks, ND
$1,115/mo (7.8% of income)
Grand Forks, ND
$1,113/mo (7.8% of income)
Mandan, ND
$1,110/mo (7.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jamestown

View full rent data for Jamestown, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Jamestown, ND?

Median rent in Jamestown is $1,117 a month. A typical lawyer in North Dakota earns about $171,176 a year, which makes that rent 7.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Jamestown?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in North Dakota (~$171,176/yr) supports up to $4,279 a month in rent. Jamestown's current median rent is $1,117/mo, which leaves a $3,162/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $82 an hour, a lawyer in North Dakota works roughly 13.6 hours a month to cover Jamestown's median rent of $1,117.

Where is rent cheaper than Jamestown for a lawyer?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Grand Forks ($1,115/mo), Grand Forks ($1,113/mo), Mandan ($1,110/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.

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