Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Appleton, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23% of gross income.

Appleton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Appleton median rent
$1,195/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Wisconsin)
$62,301/yr
Rent as % of income
23%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,192, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,558/mo in rent. Appleton's median rent of $1,195 leaves roughly $363/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 39.9 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Appleton, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Menasha, WI
$1,194/mo (23% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,194/mo (23% of income)
Shorewood, WI
$1,193/mo (23% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Appleton

View full rent data for Appleton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Appleton, WI?

Median rent in Appleton is $1,195 a month. A typical real estate agent in Wisconsin earns about $62,301 a year, which makes that rent 23% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Appleton?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Wisconsin (~$62,301/yr) supports up to $1,558 a month in rent. Appleton's current median rent is $1,195/mo, which leaves a $363/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a real estate agent in Wisconsin works roughly 39.9 hours a month to cover Appleton's median rent of $1,195.

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

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Menasha ($1,194/mo), Menasha ($1,194/mo), Shorewood ($1,193/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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