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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.3% of gross income.

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

Wellesley median rent
$4,013/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Massachusetts)
$76,073/yr
Rent as % of income
63.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,902/mo in rent. Wellesley's median rent of $4,013 exceeds that threshold by $2,111/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 109.7 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 Wellesley, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Hingham, MA
$3,970/mo (62.6% of income)
Lexington, MA
$3,946/mo (62.2% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,857/mo (60.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wellesley

View full rent data for Wellesley, MA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Wellesley is $4,013 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 63.3% 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 Wellesley?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Wellesley's current median rent is $4,013/mo, which is $2,111/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 109.7 hours a month to cover Wellesley's median rent of $4,013.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Hingham ($3,970/mo), Lexington ($3,946/mo), Winchester ($3,857/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 Wellesley, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.