Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Ware, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.7% of gross income.

Ware rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Ware median rent
$1,388/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Massachusetts)
$43,001/yr
Rent as % of income
38.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,583, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,075/mo in rent. Ware's median rent of $1,388 exceeds that threshold by $313/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 67.1 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 Ware, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Fall River, MA
$1,216/mo (33.9% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,172/mo (32.7% of income)
Fall River, MA
$1,119/mo (31.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ware

View full rent data for Ware, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Ware, MA?

Median rent in Ware is $1,388 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Massachusetts earns about $43,001 a year, which makes that rent 38.7% 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 Ware?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Massachusetts (~$43,001/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Ware's current median rent is $1,388/mo, which is $313/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a retail salesperson in Massachusetts works roughly 67.1 hours a month to cover Ware's median rent of $1,388.

Where is rent cheaper than Ware for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Fall River ($1,216/mo), Springfield ($1,172/mo), Fall River ($1,119/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 Ware, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.