Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Billerica, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.5% of gross income.

Billerica rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Billerica median rent
$2,741/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Massachusetts)
$43,001/yr
Rent as % of income
76.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,583, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Billerica's median rent of $2,741 exceeds that threshold by $1,666/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 132.6 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Billerica, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Norwood, MA
$2,740/mo (76.5% of income)
North Andover, MA
$2,739/mo (76.4% of income)
Westborough, MA
$2,738/mo (76.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Billerica

View full rent data for Billerica, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Billerica, MA?

Median rent in Billerica is $2,741 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Massachusetts earns about $43,001 a year, which makes that rent 76.5% 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 Billerica?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Massachusetts (~$43,001/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Billerica's current median rent is $2,741/mo, which is $1,666/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a retail salesperson in Massachusetts works roughly 132.6 hours a month to cover Billerica's median rent of $2,741.

Where is rent cheaper than Billerica for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Norwood ($2,740/mo), North Andover ($2,739/mo), Westborough ($2,738/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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