Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Bellingham, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.6% of gross income.

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

Bellingham median rent
$2,571/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Massachusetts)
$76,073/yr
Rent as % of income
40.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,902/mo in rent. Bellingham's median rent of $2,571 exceeds that threshold by $669/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 70.3 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Bellingham, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Amherst, MA
$2,570/mo (40.5% of income)
Acton, MA
$2,568/mo (40.5% of income)
Tewksbury, MA
$2,563/mo (40.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bellingham

View full rent data for Bellingham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Bellingham, MA?

Median rent in Bellingham is $2,571 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 40.6% 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 Bellingham?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Bellingham's current median rent is $2,571/mo, which is $669/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 70.3 hours a month to cover Bellingham's median rent of $2,571.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Amherst ($2,570/mo), Acton ($2,568/mo), Tewksbury ($2,563/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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