Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Somerville, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.9% of gross income.

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

Somerville median rent
$3,497/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
53.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Somerville's median rent of $3,497 exceeds that threshold by $1,551/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 93.4 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 Somerville, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Boston, MA
$3,490/mo (53.8% of income)
Brookline, MA
$3,486/mo (53.7% of income)
Boston, MA
$3,485/mo (53.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Somerville

View full rent data for Somerville, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Somerville, MA?

Median rent in Somerville is $3,497 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 53.9% 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 Somerville?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Somerville's current median rent is $3,497/mo, which is $1,551/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 93.4 hours a month to cover Somerville's median rent of $3,497.

Where is rent cheaper than Somerville for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Boston ($3,490/mo), Brookline ($3,486/mo), Boston ($3,485/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 Somerville, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.