Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Bellingham, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.

Bellingham rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Bellingham median rent
$2,571/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
39.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Bellingham's median rent of $2,571 exceeds that threshold by $625/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 68.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Amherst, MA
$2,570/mo (39.6% of income)
Acton, MA
$2,568/mo (39.6% of income)
Tewksbury, MA
$2,563/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bellingham

View full rent data for Bellingham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Bellingham, MA?

Median rent in Bellingham is $2,571 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Bellingham?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Bellingham's current median rent is $2,571/mo, which is $625/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in Bellingham?

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 68.7 hours a month to cover Bellingham's median rent of $2,571.

Where is rent cheaper than Bellingham for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Amherst ($2,570/mo), Acton ($2,568/mo), Tewksbury ($2,563/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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