Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Needham, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.6% of gross income.

Needham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Needham median rent
$3,155/mo
Pharmacist salary (Massachusetts)
$153,990/yr
Rent as % of income
24.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,833, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,850/mo in rent. Needham's median rent of $3,155 leaves roughly $695/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 42.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Needham, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Westwood, MA
$3,154/mo (24.6% of income)
Reading, MA
$3,154/mo (24.6% of income)
Medford, MA
$3,152/mo (24.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Needham

View full rent data for Needham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Needham, MA?

Median rent in Needham is $3,155 a month. A typical pharmacist in Massachusetts earns about $153,990 a year, which makes that rent 24.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Needham?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Massachusetts (~$153,990/yr) supports up to $3,850 a month in rent. Needham's current median rent is $3,155/mo, which leaves a $695/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Needham?

At an hourly equivalent of about $74 an hour, a pharmacist in Massachusetts works roughly 42.6 hours a month to cover Needham's median rent of $3,155.

Where is rent cheaper than Needham for a pharmacist?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westwood ($3,154/mo), Reading ($3,154/mo), Medford ($3,152/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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