Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Gloucester, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

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

Gloucester median rent
$2,574/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Gloucester's median rent of $2,574 exceeds that threshold by $628/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 68.8 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 Gloucester, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Melrose, MA
$2,572/mo (39.7% of income)
Maynard, MA
$2,571/mo (39.6% of income)
Amherst, MA
$2,570/mo (39.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gloucester

View full rent data for Gloucester, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Gloucester, MA?

Median rent in Gloucester is $2,574 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Gloucester?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Gloucester's current median rent is $2,574/mo, which is $628/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 68.8 hours a month to cover Gloucester's median rent of $2,574.

Where is rent cheaper than Gloucester for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Melrose ($2,572/mo), Maynard ($2,571/mo), Amherst ($2,570/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 Gloucester, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.