Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Northfield, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.7% of gross income.

Northfield rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Northfield median rent
$1,745/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Minnesota)
$68,203/yr
Rent as % of income
30.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,684, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,705/mo in rent. Northfield's median rent of $1,745 exceeds that threshold by $40/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 53.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Northfield, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Eden Prairie, MN
$1,744/mo (30.7% of income)
Saint Louis Park, MN
$1,744/mo (30.7% of income)
Saint Louis Park, MN
$1,741/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Northfield

View full rent data for Northfield, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Northfield, MN?

Median rent in Northfield is $1,745 a month. A typical real estate agent in Minnesota earns about $68,203 a year, which makes that rent 30.7% 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 Northfield?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Minnesota (~$68,203/yr) supports up to $1,705 a month in rent. Northfield's current median rent is $1,745/mo, which is $40/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a real estate agent in Minnesota works roughly 53.2 hours a month to cover Northfield's median rent of $1,745.

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

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Eden Prairie ($1,744/mo), Saint Louis Park ($1,744/mo), Saint Louis Park ($1,741/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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