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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.4% of gross income.

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

Burlington median rent
$3,388/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Massachusetts)
$76,073/yr
Rent as % of income
53.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,902/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $3,388 exceeds that threshold by $1,486/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 92.6 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Hingham, MA
$3,387/mo (53.4% of income)
Cambridge, MA
$3,381/mo (53.3% of income)
Needham, MA
$3,381/mo (53.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, MA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Burlington is $3,388 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 53.4% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $3,388/mo, which is $1,486/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 92.6 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $3,388.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Hingham ($3,387/mo), Cambridge ($3,381/mo), Needham ($3,381/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 Burlington, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.