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

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.1% of gross income.

Worcester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Worcester median rent
$2,164/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Massachusetts)
$76,073/yr
Rent as % of income
34.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,339, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,902/mo in rent. Worcester's median rent of $2,164 exceeds that threshold by $262/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 59.2 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 Worcester, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Brockton, MA
$2,163/mo (34.1% of income)
Attleboro, MA
$2,152/mo (33.9% of income)
Taunton, MA
$2,151/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Worcester

View full rent data for Worcester, MA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Worcester is $2,164 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 34.1% 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 Worcester?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Worcester's current median rent is $2,164/mo, which is $262/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 59.2 hours a month to cover Worcester's median rent of $2,164.

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

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brockton ($2,163/mo), Attleboro ($2,152/mo), Taunton ($2,151/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 Worcester, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.