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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54% of gross income.

Scarborough rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Scarborough median rent
$2,742/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Maine)
$60,989/yr
Rent as % of income
54%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,082, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,525/mo in rent. Scarborough's median rent of $2,742 exceeds that threshold by $1,217/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 93.5 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 Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Cape Elizabeth, ME
$2,721/mo (53.5% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,716/mo (53.4% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,709/mo (53.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scarborough

View full rent data for Scarborough, ME

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Scarborough is $2,742 a month. A typical real estate agent in Maine earns about $60,989 a year, which makes that rent 54% 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 Scarborough?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Maine (~$60,989/yr) supports up to $1,525 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,742/mo, which is $1,217/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Maine works roughly 93.5 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,742.

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

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Cape Elizabeth ($2,721/mo), Kittery ($2,716/mo), Kittery ($2,709/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 Scarborough, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.