Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Houma, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.5% of gross income.

Houma rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Houma median rent
$1,331/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Louisiana)
$32,251/yr
Rent as % of income
49.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,688, and the 30% rule supports up to $806/mo in rent. Houma's median rent of $1,331 exceeds that threshold by $525/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 85.8 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Houma, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Chalmette, LA
$1,330/mo (49.5% of income)
Harahan, LA
$1,325/mo (49.3% of income)
Lafayette, LA
$1,324/mo (49.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Houma

View full rent data for Houma, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Houma, LA?

Median rent in Houma is $1,331 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Louisiana earns about $32,251 a year, which makes that rent 49.5% 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 Houma?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Louisiana (~$32,251/yr) supports up to $806 a month in rent. Houma's current median rent is $1,331/mo, which is $525/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Louisiana works roughly 85.8 hours a month to cover Houma's median rent of $1,331.

Where is rent cheaper than Houma for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Chalmette ($1,330/mo), Harahan ($1,325/mo), Lafayette ($1,324/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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