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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.1% of gross income.

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

Orono median rent
$2,900/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Maine)
$60,989/yr
Rent as % of income
57.1%
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 $2,900 exceeds that threshold by $1,375/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 98.9 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:

Falmouth, ME
$2,895/mo (57% of income)
Falmouth, ME
$2,750/mo (54.1% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,714/mo (53.4% 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 $2,900 a month. A typical real estate agent in Maine earns about $60,989 a year, which makes that rent 57.1% 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 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 $2,900/mo, which is $1,375/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 98.9 hours a month to cover Orono's median rent of $2,900.

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

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Falmouth ($2,895/mo), Falmouth ($2,750/mo), Scarborough ($2,714/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.