Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Fairfield, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.3% of gross income.

Fairfield rent: March 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Fairfield median rent
$1,124/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Alabama)
$31,880/yr
Rent as % of income
42.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,657, and the 30% rule supports up to $797/mo in rent. Fairfield's median rent of $1,124 exceeds that threshold by $327/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 73.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Fairfield, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Dothan, AL
$1,123/mo (42.3% of income)
Troy, AL
$1,120/mo (42.2% of income)
Dothan, AL
$1,120/mo (42.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairfield

View full rent data for Fairfield, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Fairfield, AL?

Median rent in Fairfield is $1,124 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Alabama earns about $31,880 a year, which makes that rent 42.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Fairfield?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Alabama (~$31,880/yr) supports up to $797 a month in rent. Fairfield's current median rent is $1,124/mo, which is $327/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Fairfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a retail salesperson in Alabama works roughly 73.3 hours a month to cover Fairfield's median rent of $1,124.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairfield for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Dothan ($1,123/mo), Troy ($1,120/mo), Dothan ($1,120/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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