Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Brockton, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.1% of gross income.

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

Brockton median rent
$2,406/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Massachusetts)
$43,001/yr
Rent as % of income
67.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,583, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Brockton's median rent of $2,406 exceeds that threshold by $1,331/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 116.4 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 Brockton, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Methuen, MA
$2,405/mo (67.1% of income)
Methuen, MA
$2,404/mo (67.1% of income)
Barnstable, MA
$2,404/mo (67.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brockton

View full rent data for Brockton, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Brockton, MA?

Median rent in Brockton is $2,406 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Massachusetts earns about $43,001 a year, which makes that rent 67.1% 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 Brockton?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Massachusetts (~$43,001/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Brockton's current median rent is $2,406/mo, which is $1,331/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a retail salesperson in Massachusetts works roughly 116.4 hours a month to cover Brockton's median rent of $2,406.

Where is rent cheaper than Brockton for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Methuen ($2,405/mo), Methuen ($2,404/mo), Barnstable ($2,404/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 Brockton, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.