Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Plainville, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.4% of gross income.

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

Plainville median rent
$2,094/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Massachusetts)
$43,001/yr
Rent as % of income
58.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,583, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Plainville's median rent of $2,094 exceeds that threshold by $1,019/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 101.3 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Plainville, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Northampton, MA
$2,091/mo (58.4% of income)
Taunton, MA
$2,090/mo (58.3% of income)
Taunton, MA
$2,090/mo (58.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Plainville

View full rent data for Plainville, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Plainville, MA?

Median rent in Plainville is $2,094 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Massachusetts earns about $43,001 a year, which makes that rent 58.4% 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 Plainville?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Massachusetts (~$43,001/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Plainville's current median rent is $2,094/mo, which is $1,019/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a retail salesperson in Massachusetts works roughly 101.3 hours a month to cover Plainville's median rent of $2,094.

Where is rent cheaper than Plainville for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Northampton ($2,091/mo), Taunton ($2,090/mo), Taunton ($2,090/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 Plainville, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.