Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Gainesville, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.2% of gross income.

Gainesville rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Gainesville median rent
$3,021/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Virginia)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
54.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Gainesville's median rent of $3,021 exceeds that threshold by $1,349/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 93.9 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Gainesville, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Oakton, VA
$3,020/mo (54.2% of income)
Chantilly, VA
$3,016/mo (54.1% of income)
Chantilly, VA
$3,007/mo (53.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gainesville

View full rent data for Gainesville, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Gainesville, VA?

Median rent in Gainesville is $3,021 a month. A typical real estate agent in Virginia earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 54.2% 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 Gainesville?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Virginia (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Gainesville's current median rent is $3,021/mo, which is $1,349/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Virginia works roughly 93.9 hours a month to cover Gainesville's median rent of $3,021.

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

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Oakton ($3,020/mo), Chantilly ($3,016/mo), Chantilly ($3,007/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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