Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Brookline, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.3% of gross income.

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

Brookline median rent
$3,523/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
54.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Brookline's median rent of $3,523 exceeds that threshold by $1,577/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 94.1 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 Brookline, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,519/mo (54.3% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,512/mo (54.1% of income)
Boston, MA
$3,510/mo (54.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookline

View full rent data for Brookline, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Brookline, MA?

Median rent in Brookline is $3,523 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 54.3% 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 Brookline?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Brookline's current median rent is $3,523/mo, which is $1,577/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 94.1 hours a month to cover Brookline's median rent of $3,523.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookline for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,519/mo), Concord ($3,512/mo), Boston ($3,510/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 Brookline, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.