Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Orono, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32% of gross income.

Orono rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Orono median rent
$1,625/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Maine)
$60,989/yr
Rent as % of income
32%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,082, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,525/mo in rent. Orono's median rent of $1,625 exceeds that threshold by $100/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 55.4 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Orono, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Auburn, ME
$1,622/mo (31.9% of income)
Springvale, ME
$1,620/mo (31.9% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,611/mo (31.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Orono

View full rent data for Orono, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Orono, ME?

Median rent in Orono is $1,625 a month. A typical real estate agent in Maine earns about $60,989 a year, which makes that rent 32% 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 Orono?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Maine (~$60,989/yr) supports up to $1,525 a month in rent. Orono's current median rent is $1,625/mo, which is $100/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Maine works roughly 55.4 hours a month to cover Orono's median rent of $1,625.

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

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Auburn ($1,622/mo), Springvale ($1,620/mo), Auburn ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maine state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Orono, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.