Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Beltsville, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48% of gross income.

Beltsville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Beltsville median rent
$1,602/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Maryland)
$40,036/yr
Rent as % of income
48%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,336, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,001/mo in rent. Beltsville's median rent of $1,602 exceeds that threshold by $601/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 83.2 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Beltsville, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Robinwood, MD
$1,600/mo (48% of income)
Parkville, MD
$1,599/mo (47.9% of income)
Robinwood, MD
$1,598/mo (47.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Beltsville

View full rent data for Beltsville, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Beltsville, MD?

Median rent in Beltsville is $1,602 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Maryland earns about $40,036 a year, which makes that rent 48% 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 Beltsville?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Maryland (~$40,036/yr) supports up to $1,001 a month in rent. Beltsville's current median rent is $1,602/mo, which is $601/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Maryland works roughly 83.2 hours a month to cover Beltsville's median rent of $1,602.

Where is rent cheaper than Beltsville for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Robinwood ($1,600/mo), Parkville ($1,599/mo), Robinwood ($1,598/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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