Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Waltham, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48% of gross income.
Waltham rent: June 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 Waltham, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waltham
View full rent data for Waltham, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Waltham, MA?
Median rent in Waltham is $3,042 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 48% 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 Waltham?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Waltham's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which is $1,140/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Waltham?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 83.2 hours a month to cover Waltham's median rent of $3,042.
Where is rent cheaper than Waltham for a real estate agent?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($3,037/mo), Watertown ($3,036/mo), Watertown ($3,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.