Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Helena, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.7% of gross income.

Helena rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Helena median rent
$1,913/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Alabama)
$56,399/yr
Rent as % of income
40.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,700, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,410/mo in rent. Helena's median rent of $1,913 exceeds that threshold by $503/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 70.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Helena, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Mc Calla, AL
$1,897/mo (40.4% of income)
Mc Calla, AL
$1,893/mo (40.3% of income)
Mc Calla, AL
$1,889/mo (40.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Helena

View full rent data for Helena, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Helena, AL?

Median rent in Helena is $1,913 a month. A typical real estate agent in Alabama earns about $56,399 a year, which makes that rent 40.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Helena?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Alabama (~$56,399/yr) supports up to $1,410 a month in rent. Helena's current median rent is $1,913/mo, which is $503/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Helena?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a real estate agent in Alabama works roughly 70.6 hours a month to cover Helena's median rent of $1,913.

Where is rent cheaper than Helena for a real estate agent?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Mc Calla ($1,897/mo), Mc Calla ($1,893/mo), Mc Calla ($1,889/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Alabama state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Helena, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.