Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Chelsea, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.7% of gross income.
Chelsea rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chelsea
View full rent data for Chelsea, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Chelsea, MA?
Median rent in Chelsea is $2,643 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 41.7% 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 Chelsea?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,643/mo, which is $741/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Chelsea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 72.3 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,643.
Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a real estate agent?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Wakefield ($2,642/mo), Plymouth ($2,642/mo), Malden ($2,642/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.