Can A Plumber Afford Rent in New Bedford, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

New Bedford median rent
$1,916/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. New Bedford's median rent of $1,916 leaves roughly $30/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 51.2 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 New Bedford, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Westfield, MA
$1,910/mo (29.4% of income)
Leominster, MA
$1,908/mo (29.4% of income)
Boxboro, MA
$1,906/mo (29.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Bedford

View full rent data for New Bedford, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in New Bedford, MA?

Median rent in New Bedford is $1,916 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in New Bedford?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. New Bedford's current median rent is $1,916/mo, which leaves a $30/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 51.2 hours a month to cover New Bedford's median rent of $1,916.

Where is rent cheaper than New Bedford for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westfield ($1,910/mo), Leominster ($1,908/mo), Boxboro ($1,906/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 New Bedford, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.