Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Northampton, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.2% of gross income.

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

Northampton median rent
$2,477/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
38.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Northampton's median rent of $2,477 exceeds that threshold by $531/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 66.2 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 Northampton, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Winthrop, MA
$2,476/mo (38.2% of income)
Chelsea, MA
$2,476/mo (38.2% of income)
Gloucester, MA
$2,475/mo (38.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Northampton

View full rent data for Northampton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Northampton, MA?

Median rent in Northampton is $2,477 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 38.2% 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 Northampton?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Northampton's current median rent is $2,477/mo, which is $531/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 66.2 hours a month to cover Northampton's median rent of $2,477.

Where is rent cheaper than Northampton for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Winthrop ($2,476/mo), Chelsea ($2,476/mo), Gloucester ($2,475/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 Northampton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.