Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Essex, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.1% of gross income.

Essex rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Essex median rent
$1,352/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Maryland)
$107,687/yr
Rent as % of income
15.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,974, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,692/mo in rent. Essex's median rent of $1,352 leaves roughly $1,340/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 26.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maryland cities have lower median rent than Essex, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Hagerstown, MD
$1,348/mo (15% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,345/mo (15% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,344/mo (15% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Essex

View full rent data for Essex, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Essex, MD?

Median rent in Essex is $1,352 a month. A typical physical therapist in Maryland earns about $107,687 a year, which makes that rent 15.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Essex?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Maryland (~$107,687/yr) supports up to $2,692 a month in rent. Essex's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $1,340/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Essex?

At an hourly equivalent of about $52 an hour, a physical therapist in Maryland works roughly 26.1 hours a month to cover Essex's median rent of $1,352.

Where is rent cheaper than Essex for a physical therapist?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hagerstown ($1,348/mo), Hagerstown ($1,345/mo), Hagerstown ($1,344/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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